European Championship quarter-finals: Duel of the super quartet: “Wusiala” against Spain’s “Wamal”

European Championship quarter-final duel of the super quartet: “Wusiala” against Spain’s “Wamal”

Rivals in the league, the future in the DFB jersey: Florian Wirtz (l.) and Jamal Musiala. Photo

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

The European Championship quarter-final between Germany and Spain will be the first showdown between the super talents Musiala, Wirtz, Williams and Yamal. Will they shape a football generation?

The four gifted talents Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Nico Williams (all 21) and Lamine Yamal (16) will meet for the first time in the European Championship quarter-finals between Germany and Spain on Friday in Stuttgart. The German football wizards already have a common nickname: “Wusiala”. The Spanish equivalent would be “Wamal”. If the four continue on their path, they can shape an era.

Jamal Musiala: Birthday: 21 February 2003 – Place of birth: Stuttgart – Club: FC Bayern Munich – International matches/Goals: 33/5

These words sound like a threat to the competition. “I think I can play even better.” Even better than very good, then. After a trial run at the 2021 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup disappointment with too many missed chances, the Munich player is on his way to becoming a European Championship superstar. He has always mastered the magic of dribbling. Now he is also an executor with three goals. National coach Julian Nagelsmann had demanded a better “rate” from Musiala and got it. Only Gerd Müller and Dieter Müller scored more goals for Germany at a European Championship tournament in the 1970s.

Florian Wirtz: Birthday: May 3, 2003 – Place of birth: Pulheim-Brauweiler – Club: Bayer Leverkusen – International matches/goals: 22/2

The first big impact of the European Championship belonged to the 21-year-old. With his goal in the opening match against Scotland, the Leverkusen player simply continued where he left off at Bayer. Playing beautiful and successful football, working magic on the pitch. But the long and successful club season also takes its toll. Double winner Wirtz looked tired. He was given a break from the starting eleven in the round of 16 against Denmark. A comeback in the starting line-up is expected. There is no lack of support either. “He is an outstanding footballer. Everyone wants to see him,” said DFB sports director Rudi Völler.

Nico WilliamsBirthday: 12 July 2002 – Place of birth: Pamplona – Club: Athletic Bilbao – International matches/Goals: 17/3

The left winger with the distinctive hairstyle – blond dyed tips in his braids – climbed up the stands after reaching the quarter-finals against Georgia to hug his big brother Iñaki. He also plays in Bilbao and is like a father figure to Nico. His parents fled from Ghana. Nicholas Williams, as he is actually called, is one of the most sought-after strikers in world football. The release clause for the Basques is said to be 60 million euros. He played a spectacular game in the 1-0 win against Italy. Against Georgia he scored the 3-1 and danced with his friend Yamal after the final whistle.

Lamine Yamal:

Birthday: 13 July 2007 – Place of birth: Esplugues de Llobregat – Club: FC Barcelona – International matches/Goals: 11/2

The super talent turns 17 one day before the final. He has broken all age records in Spain and at the European Championships. When King Felipe VI shook hands with the players in the dressing room after the opening victory against Croatia, he stopped at Yamal and asked him how old he was. “Only 16!” said the monarch in amazement. The dribbling artist studied for his secondary school diploma during the European Championships – and passed the exam, according to information from the radio station Cope. The right winger from the famous football boarding school La Masia managed his first assist in the 2-1 win against Georgia for Fabián Ruiz.

dpa

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