Thomas Müller has done it all. World Cup, Champions League, treble, sextuple, you name it. He is the most decorated German footballer in history, enjoying a storied career for both Bayern Munich and the German national team. So, when asked about the new generation of German footballers, his opinion is worth considering.
“We have incredibly talented players who can make an impact and will do so in the future,” said Müller (via DW Sports). Germany have plenty of top level young talent, like Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Lennart Karl, all of whom are expected to make the World Cup squad.
“But,” he added, “I don’t think they are mature enough to win titles just yet.”
This statement was made before the most recent international break, where Florian Wirtz helped guide Germany to narrow wins over Switzerland and Ghana. Julian Nagelsmann has come under fire for his lineup choices, and the way he uses the talent at his disposal. Meanwhile, Jamal Musiala remains locked in a battle for fitness, still struggling with the injury from last year’s Club World Cup.
Müller was part of a Germany generation that won it all. He was one of the stars, winning the Golden Boot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup at the age of 21, younger than Musiala and Wirtz are right now. He understands that even a talented squad can take a few tries to win the big trophies, especially at the international level.
So it’s not just a matter of talent, but also factors like experience and squad cohesion, and (of course) tactics. Will the German new generation prove him wrong at the World Cup this summer? We’ll have to wait and see.