"Jamal 'Bambi' Musiala is an exceptional player and a lovely little guy" - Bayern Munich and Germany attacker Serge Gnabry
Bayern Munich teenager Jamal Musiala will become a key player for Germany, according to teammate for club and country, Serge Gnabry.
Musiala enjoyed a breakout campaign at Bayern in 2020/21, his seven goals and one assist in 39 competitive appearances sparking an international tug-of-war between England and Germany.
Despite representing England up to U21 level, Musiala opted to represent the senior team of his country of birth, debuting in the March round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The youngest member of Joachim Löw's UEFA Euro 2020 squad, the Bayern midfielder proceeded to make history as the greenest German player to feature in a major tournament in Die Mannschaft's 2–2 draw with Hungary.
"His footballing qualities are exceptional," Gnabry said of Musiala, ahead of Germany's Euro 2020 last-16 showdown with England.
"As you saw against Hungary, he can really help the team. I'm completely convinced by him. His time will come, it's just a case of when."
Gnabry also revealed what name the leggy Musiala goes by among his teammates.
"Leroy [Sane] gave him the nickname 'Bambi'," commented Germany's highest-scoring player of the post-2018 cycle. "He's a lovely little guy, really pleasant."
Watch: A Jamal Musiala highlight reel
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Hungary would beg to differ. Germany trailed the Magyars 2-1 in the 82nd minute of their clash at the Allianz Arena and were on the verge of finishing bottom of Group F, when Löw turned to Musiala. The antithesis of Bambi on ice, the 18-year-old was the catalyst for Leon Goretzka's 84th-minute equaliser with a trademark dribble in off the left-hand side.
Germany advanced as runners-up behind reigning world champions France, setting up a knockout clash with the country where Musiala spent almost 10 years of his life, before joining Bayern from the Chelsea academy in summer 2019.
"I made a conscious decision to play for Germany, but of course it's no ordinary game for me," he told the German Football Association.
"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.
Watch: Musiala's four Wembley youth goals
"I have spoken to Jude Bellingham about it, too. We played together at youth level for England and now he's part of their Euros squad. It's cool that we've ended up playing them and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm excited to see what happens."
If they beat England at Wembley Stadium, three-time European champions Germany will face the winner of Wednesday's last-16 meeting between Sweden and Ukraine. Czech Republic or Denmark await in the last four.
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