Jamal Musiala: Assessing who the Bayern Munch youngster should represent at international level
England or Germany? It’s not really a decision you can comprehend having to make – you’re either one or the other, right?
There’s no mid-ground, there’s no fence sitting, you support one and you hate the other. Simples.
However, it’s not quite so simple if your name is Jamal Musiala. The talented Bayern Munich forward is fast developing into one of the best talents in the Bundesliga, but with great talent comes great pressure – that’s not a saying, but stick with us.
Despite representing the Three Lions at every possible imaginable youth level, the 17-year-old – who moved to England aged seven – is also eligible to play for Germany, having been born in Stuttgart.
BILD report that Die Mannschaft head coach Joachim Low is keen to persuade the youngster to switch his allegiance from England to Germany, a move Gareth Southgate’s side have profited from in the past following Declan Rice’s change of heart having previously represented the Republic of Ireland.
So who should he choose?
First of all, let’s look which country would likely afford his the most game time. Musiala tends to play on the left of a front three, meaning he’d face tough competition in the form of Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish with England, though in truth the prospect of usurping Leroy Sane and Julian Brandt doesn’t sound particularly enticing either.
Never fear, the twinkle-toed teenager can play in a number of positions behind the frontman, maybe there’s a place on the right wing or as a number ten going spare in either side – you don’t need to be a footballing genius to already know both countries are pretty stacked in these positions.
So, Musiala is going to face stiff competition regardless of which nation he chooses – time to look at another possible variant.
In years gone by, such was the rarity of an Englishman plying his trade in a foreign league, there was a tendency for them to become forgotten about by the national team manager – out of sight out of mind n’all that.
However, the emergence of superstars like Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and the renaissance in Atletico Madrid man Kieran Trippier’s Three Lions career is proof this is no longer a factor.
Basically, the whole argument boils down to which country has got the better chance of success? It seems absolutely ridiculous to suggest England might be in a stronger position than Germany to secure future silverware, but the fact of the matter is – they probably are.
There isn’t much in it – with the pair’s identical records in Euro 2020 qualifying proof of just how closely matched they are – but England are a young, hungry, talented side, and with the right leadership they might just be able to end their 55-year wait for a major tournament triumph.
Like you thought we were ever going to suggest he should play for Germany.