Former Chelsea talent Jamal Musiala could take another step in his impressive career this afternoon in Germany's World Cup opener against Japan.
Musiala has established himself as one of Europe's hottest talents in recent seasons after breaking through to the Bayern Munich first team in 2020. The 19-year-old has made 100 appearances for the German giants since returning to his birth nation at the age of 16 and has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2022/23 campaign with 22 goal involvements in 22 games.
His form has earned him a place in the Germany World Cup squad as DFB-Team seek mass improvement from their group stage exit in 2018. Hansi Flick's side face Japan at 1pm today in Group E and Musiala will fancy his chances of starting in the attacking midfielder spot after featuring in eight of their previous nine games.
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Musiala's impressive trajectory since leaving the west-Londoners has been one of very few players that have slipped through the net at Cobham. Despite featuring for England at youth level, Musiala opted to represent Germany at senior level but has admitted he has carried over one key bit of advice from England to now.
Speaking ahead of today's game against Japan, he said: "I think in England you learn different things than in Germany. I took a lot with me. They used to say 'play with freedom'.
"This is something I took with me in my career and this will remain with me."
Whilst Germany are not many people's favourites to win the tournament, Musiala has backed his teammates to go all the way. However, first, they must surpass 2010 champions Spain in the group stage. "We have the quality to go far in this tournament," Musiala said. "We all go in with the mindset that we can win the title. We are well prepared and raring to go."
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