A heated debate has emerged surrounding the German national team’s starting lineup for their upcoming World Cup opening match. High-profile pundits Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller have publicly suggested that head coach Julian Nagelsmann should bench midfielder Jamal Musiala, arguing that the 23-year-old has yet to regain his full form following a significant leg injury sustained at last summer’s Club World Cup.
During a recent MagentaTV broadcast, Klopp and Müller proposed starting Deniz Undav instead of Musiala, suggesting that the Bayern Munich star would be more effective as a substitute against tired opponents. The suggestion has sparked immediate pushback from within the football community.
Former Germany international Lothar Matthäus defended Musiala in comments to Bild, criticizing the pundits for creating unnecessary pressure. “I was very surprised when I saw that Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller advised playing Deniz Undav instead of Jamal Musiala,” Matthäus stated. “It lacks sensitivity. To have a successful World Cup, Germany needs the quality of Musiala. That’s why he needs to be given trust and playing time.”
Matthäus further questioned the timing of the criticism, noting that Musiala showed signs of improvement during the second half of a recent match against the USA. While acknowledging that Musiala is not currently at his peak, Matthäus argued that public interference from high-profile figures complicates the head coach’s management of the squad ahead of the tournament.