Bundesliga

BVB striker Youssoufa Moukoko ready for the World Cup in Qatar? Pros and cons

Published

5 months ago

November 6, 2022

BVB striker Youssoufa Moukoko ready for the World Cup in Qatar? Pros and cons

Youssouffa Moukoko made an impressive application for a place in Hansi Flick’s World Cup squad with a gala in BVB’s 3-0 win over VfL Bochum on matchday 13 of the Bundesliga. But is the not even 18-year-old really ready for the World Cup? A pro and con.

PRO: Quality is not a question of age – Moukoko is ready for the World Cup

By Filippo Cataldo

On November 20, 2022, Youssoufa Moukoko will be 18 years old. What could be better for a young professional footballer than celebrating his coming of age on the day of the World Cup opening game, guaranteed to be free of excitement and escalation with the DFB team in the World Cup base in Qatar?

Seriously: Moukoko proved by Saturday at the latest that he is ready for the World Cup and that he could also help the DFB team in Qatar. With his two wonderful goals in BVB’s 3-0 win against VfL Bochum in the small Revier derby, of course. Above all, he showed it with his behavior after the game.

“Honestly, I don’t care. I just watch from game to game when I’m performing like that. In the end we’ll see who’s there on Thursday,” said Moukoko immediately after the game sky when asked about his nomination assessment. Someone who is not even 18 years old and takes the phrases from the textbook for professional footballer answers so coolly ad absurdum is so ripe for a World Cup.

BVB grades: Süle as the ball loss king – only one towers above

1/17

BVB prevailed confidently against Bochum, a youngster made a strong bid for the World Cup, while a defender fell behind slightly compared to his colleagues. The grades and individual reviews.

2/17

GREGOR KOBEL: The BVB keeper didn’t have to intervene when Zoller’s overhead kick was thrown. Barely footed Osei-Tutu to steer the ball to the post. A leisurely afternoon for Kobel. Note 3

3/17

NIKLAS SÜLE: A misunderstanding with Hummels. Luckily, Soares’ good cross went offside (27′). 12 turnovers in the first round were clearly too much, at least with a few good offensive actions. Nevertheless only: Grade: 4

4/17

MATS HUMMELS: The defense chief had Bochum’s second striker Hofmann well under control. Best duel at BVB, also did a lot to build up the game. Minor positional error after an hour, which went unpunished. Note 3

5/17

NICO SCHLOTTERBECK: Initially with a few wobbles against Zoller. He was able to thank the attentive VAR for the supposed 1:2 goal. But he ironed it out for his colleagues (40th). But much stronger in the second round. Grade: 3.5

6/17

RAPHAEL GUERREIRO: Was decent defensively, but wasn’t terribly challenged by the VfL right side. Holding back in forward gear. The Portuguese can do that much better. Grade: 3.5

7/17

JUDE BELLINGHAM: To be found even further ahead than usual against harmless Bochumers. Often as a successful ball thief and counter-trigger on the way, for example against Zoller (53.). Without the really big highlights. Note 3

8/17

SALIH ÖZCAN: Got a bloody nose against VfL – but not in a figurative sense. So solo six in defensive midfield sovereign. Good overview, safe ball distributor. Grade: 2.5

9/17

DONYELL MALEN: In a duel with Bochum’s Lampropoulos, got the penalty kick to make it 2-0. Nice pass to Reyna. Lots of dynamics in the Dutchman’s game. Painting collected diligence cards, but again wasn’t compelling enough. Grade: 3.5

10/17

JULIAN BRANDT: A lot of ball actions, but despite the early lead hardly able to give Dortmund’s offensive game structure. His highlight: a great free kick – to the side netting (56th). Grade: 3.5

11/17

GIO REYNA: ripped off from the penalty spot (12th). Had some good ideas but rarely got through with them. Stopped just within the allowed by Soares just before the break. After the change of sides, the youngster was out of breath. Note 3

12/17

YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO: The match winner for BVB with his goals five and six this season. At 1:0 (8th) with great ball acquisition and unbridled energy, at 3:0 with feeling and a great lob (45th). Just missed the hat trick (57th). Rating: 1.5

13/17

MARCO REUS: The captain’s comeback. From the 67th minute for Reyna on the pitch. For successful counterattacks he still lacked the liveliness. In view of the clear conditions on the pitch, he held back: just don’t take any risks. Grade: 3.5

14/17

KARIM ADEYEMI: Came in for Malen in the final 23 minutes to give the wings another fresh boost. But he always got stuck with his few attempts. Grade: 3.5

15/17

FELIX PASSLACK: Replaced Süle on right-back after a little over an hour. Didn’t let anything burn, but couldn’t put himself in the limelight either. Grade: 3.5

16/17

THORGAN HAZARD: Short action in the final quarter of an hour. Helped out again at left-back as Guerreiro had less than 90 minutes in the tank after his injury lay-off. Didn’t stand out. No rating

17/17

ANTHONY MODESTE: Came in for Moukoko in the 82nd minute, who now has a clear lead in terms of starting place. Not enough time for Modeste to gain points on the 17-year-old. No rating

DFB-Elf: Player type like Youssoufa Moukoko is missing Hansi Flick

Later in the mixed zone, the rascal admitted that he “of course would like to be there” at the World Cup and that he had been in contact with Hansi Flick on Thursday. On the same day, RB Leipzig announced that Timo Werner would not be able to play football for the rest of the year due to a foot injury.

It is unclear whether there is a direct connection between Werner’s injury and Flick’s contact.

But even before the Leipzig striker’s World Cup exit, the DFB team was missing a robust, resolute and powerful dribbler with a desire for a spectacular finish. In contrast to Werner, Moukoko is not primarily a switch player, he prefers to act between opponents than between the lines.

It is at least conceivable that Moukoko would have had a real chance of being nominated, given his development this season and especially his form in recent weeks. The larger World Cup squad for Qatar (26 instead of 23 players) gives the national coach a little more room for experiments and also somewhat more daring manoeuvres. That’s why after Werner’s injury it doesn’t necessarily have to be called Niclas Füllkrug or Youssoufa Moukoko, but possibly also: Füllkrug AND Moukoko.

In what is believed to be the toughest group game against Spain on November 27, a player like Moukoko might help more than a more classic crusher like Füllkrug – but whose headers might help against Costa Rica.

Better than Poldi, Götze and Wirtz: Moukoko breaks the Bundesliga record

1/14

Youssoufa Moukoko scored something historic with his first goal against Bochum. The BVB youngster was the youngest player in Bundesliga history to score ten goals. Moukoko replaced the previous record holder Florian Wirtz. The ranking.

2/14

PLACE 13: TIMO WERNER – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 240 days.

3/14

12th PLACE: WALTER BECHTOLD – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 236 days.

4/14

PLACE 11: DITMAR JAKOBS – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 222 days.

5/14

9th PLACE: MAX MEYER – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 170 days.

6/14

9th PLACE: JULIAN DRAXLER – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 170 days.

7/14

8th PLACE: MARIO GÖTZE – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 155 days.

8/14

7th PLACE: KAI HAVERTZ – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 139 days.

9/14

PLACE 6: HORST KLÖPPEL – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 94 days.

10/14

5th PLACE: JADON SANCHO – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 19 days.

11/14

4th PLACE: OLAF THON – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 19 years and 9 days.

12/14

3rd PLACE: LUKAS PODOLSKI – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 18 years and 353 days.

13/14

2nd PLACE: FLORIAN WIRTZ – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 18 years and 139 days.

14/14

1ST PLACE: YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO – 10th Bundesliga goal at the age of 17 years and 350 days.

World Cup in Qatar: Moukoko kept every promise

The fact that Moukoko has already scored against Dortmund’s special opponents FC Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich this season must also be credited to him, as must the fact that he used the possibly unavoidably complicated first full Bundesliga season 2021/2022 to grow. When BVB reacted to Sébastien Haller’s cancer with the emergency signing of Anthony Modeste, he didn’t sulk, but scored goals.

Sure, Moukoko isn’t 18 yet and he’s going through the normal developmental stages and normal ups and downs of any young professional. But so far, Moukoko has kept every promise and never appeared to be mentally unprepared for professional life. And in general: the fact that quality is not a question of age applies in every direction.

Why should the youngest Bundesliga and youngest Champions League player in history, why shouldn’t the youngest Bundesliga goalscorer, the youngest U21 national team debutant and the youngest U21 goalscorer in history not also be able to help at the World Cup?