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Jamal Musiala’s exceptional performances for Germany have lit up Euro 2024, but it is bittersweet for England.<\/b><\/p>\n
Social media is rife with pictures of Musiala in the famous Three Lions jersey celebrating goals and trophies with midfielder Jude Bellingham during his youth career.<\/p>\n
England football may have felt FOMO, also known as the fear of missing out, as the 21-year-old scored twice in his first three matches and was named as player of the match in the 5-1 demolition of Scotland on the opening day.<\/p>\n
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann says the “brilliant” Musiala must keep playing “like he is on a small pitch in Germany or England with his friends\u201d.<\/p>\n
Yet, this joint piece of English and German engineering was once unknown to the German Football Association.<\/p>\n
Cambridge United assistant manager Kevin Betsy managed Musiala in three age groups in England’s youth set-up.<\/p>\n
Betsy told BBC Sport: “I scouted Jamal at an Under-12s tournament in Brighton, and he was up front for Chelsea.<\/p>\n
“He was tiny, one of the smallest players on the pitch, but he had amazing intelligence, game understanding, quickness over the first five metres, and dribbling ability.<\/p>\n
“I realised I saw something special when driving home. We weren’t selecting any underage players for England’s first Under-15s age group, but with him and Jude, we put forward our case to make an exception.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think Germany knew much about him or his level until he faced them and was exceptional in the match.”<\/p>\n
Betsy says Musiala went away with Germany at Under-16 level but did not enjoy his first camp there and returned to England for Under-17s football.<\/p>\n
“Again, he faced Germany as England’s captain and was exceptional against them,” he added.<\/p>\n
“After the game, their youth coach said, ‘I didn’t realise he was that good’. That game, and Jamal joining Bayern, probably gave Germany the upper hand.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n