Soccer star Jamal Musiala continues to shine at Euro 2024 as Germany beats Hungary to qualify for knockout stage
By Ben Church, CNN
(CNN) — Germany star Jamal Musiala continued his brilliant form at Euro 2024, scoring in the host’s 2-0 win against Hungary on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old’s well-taken strike in the 22nd minute also helped maintain his nation’s unbeaten streak in Group A, as Germany qualified for the knockout stages of the competition with a game to spare.
Ilkay Gündoğan doubled his team’s lead in the 67th minute, calmly finishing off a well-worked goal.
Germany, though, was tested by Hungary at the Stuttgart Arena but the underdog was unable to take any of its chances in front of goal.
Musiala now has two goals at the tournament, netting his first during Germany’s 5-1 demolition of Scotland on Friday.
Soccer’s new star
Born in Germany, Musiala moved to the United Kingdom with his family as a child and it was in London where he started his football education.
Musiala quickly started playing for Chelsea’s academy whilst also attending Whitgift – an independent school in south London that has a history of helping develop players that have gone on to become outstanding professionals, notably Callum Hudson-Odoi and former Nigeria international Victor Moses.
Speaking to CNN Sport in 2021, Musiala’s old school coach said the youngster’s ability was clear to see from an early age.
“I think from the outset, Jamal was always marked out for greatness. Jamal just stood out, his goalscoring was phenomenal,” Andrew Martin, Whitgift’s director of soccer, said.
Musiala then moved back to Germany in 2019, signing for Bayern Munich.
At just 17, he became the club’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer and went on to cement his place in Germany’s national team, despite previously playing for England’s youth teams.
Now considered one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the world, Musiala has been a stand out performer at Euro 2024, a tournament in which Germany is starting to look very threatening.
“He’s going to lead Germany to glory one day,” Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht said earlier this season, after Musiala dismantled his side in a 5-2 loss to Bayern Munich.
Germany will hope to continue its unbeaten run when it faces Switzerland in its final Group A game on Sunday, but one eye will now be on the round of 16.
Group A: Scotland and Switzerland draw
Elsewhere in Group A, Scotland and Switzerland battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw later on Wednesday.
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay scored the opening goal for Scotland in the 13th minute, his shot taking a huge deflection off Fabian Schar on its way to the goal.
Switzerland found the equalzier 13 minutes later as Xherdan Shaqiri punished Scotland for some sloppy passing, curing a long-range effort into the top corner after picking up on a loose ball.
Both teams can still qualify for the knockout stages. Scotland will face Hungary and Switzerland plays Germany on Sunday.
Group B: Albania rescues dramatic draw
Albania scored a stoppage-time equalizer to rescue a 2-2 draw against Croatia on Wednesday, a result which keeps its Euro 2024 campaign alive.
Klaus Gjasula’s 95th-minute strike capped off a thrilling encounter inside Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion stadium, as this year’s European Championships continues to deliver dramatic action and plot twists.
The No. 66 in FIFA’s world rankings, Albania had taken a surprise lead in the first half through Qazim Laci, but Croatia equalized in the 74th minute thanks to Andrej Kramarić’s composed finish.
Just two minutes later and Croatia took the lead with the most fortunate of goals. Albania’s defenders did well to block a shot but the ball ricocheted off Klaus Gjasula who inadvertently scored the cruellest of own goals.
Having lost its opening game against Italy, the defeat would have left Albania on the brink of elimination from the tournament, but there was one more twist to come.
With the clock ticking down, Gjasula redeemed himself in the final moments, leveling the score with a calm finish which sparked jubilant scenes from Albania’s traveling fans.
Croatia, ranked 56 places higher than Albania, looked disappointed by the result at full-time but a draw was probably a fair result.
Albania now sits third in Group B with one point, ahead of Croatia only on goal difference. Italy and Spain are set to play each other in the other group match on Thursday.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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