Speaking ahead of Germany’s last 16 clash against England, 18-year-old midfielder Jamal Musiala discussed his experience gained at Euro 2020, settling into the German national team and Tuesday’s fixture.
“I’m of course aware that there is a rivalry that goes back a long way,” Musiala told DFB.com. “I still remember it being a big deal in England whenever they played Germany, so I have experiences of it.”
On if it will be an emotional game..
“No, I made a conscious decision to play for Germany but if course it’s no ordinary game for me. England is my second home and I had a lot of great years there, made a lot of friends and learnt a great deal. I don’t want to forget my time there and it’s not something you can just shrug off. It will be a special match for me.”
On settling into the German national team setup..
“I feel like I’ve settled in and it’s a lot of fun. It’s just a great experience to be a part of it, especially at my age. But yes, there are moments where I think about how quickly everything has happened and pinch myself. So many incredible things have happened to me lately – it definitely isn’t normal.”
On gaining experience at Euro 2020..
“I could ask the Bayern Munich players anything and I wouldn’t feel like I was bugging them, which was helpful and made me feel more assured. Now I feel like I’ve gotten to know everyone well though and that I can talk to anybody. I don’t have as many questions though and can get by without needing as much help.”
His relationship with Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)..
“We talked about the possibility of it happening ahead of the Hungary game. He said that we’ll see each other soon and that we will swap kits after the game. It will be nice to see him again. It’s been a few years since we played together for England. We even played against Germany together and now we’re coming up against each other at a major tournament – it’s something really special for both us.”
