Lothar Matthäus Flubs El Mala Record Live on RTL
German record international Lothar Matthäus confused television viewers ahead of a match against Greece in Thessaloniki, stating on air that Said El Mala had not yet made an appearance for the national team. The 20-year-old 1. FC Köln player had in fact already made his senior international debut on October 1, coming on at halftime during a Nations League fixture against Serbia in Munich.
Studio Desk Coverage in Thessaloniki
The match in Thessaloniki was broadcast live in Germany by private network RTL. Presenter Florian König and expert analyst Lothar Matthäus led the coverage from the studio desk prior to kickoff, joined by German Football Association (DFB) sporting director Rudi Völler. König asked Matthäus to evaluate which players had performed best across the team’s opening three fixtures.
Praise for Young Talent Overshadowed
Matthäus highlighted Aleksandar Pavlović, Kevin Schade, and Freiburg players Philipp Treu and Derry Scherhant. He specifically praised the raw speed of Schade and Scherhant. Yet while evaluating young talent in the squad, Matthäus remarked that El Mala had unfortunately not yet featured in a match, overlooking the fact that the Köln player had played the entire second half against Serbia a few days prior.
Reflecting on a Surreal Milestone
Speaking after his debut, the 20-year-old admitted he never imagined reaching the national team level three or four years prior and emphasized his focus on ongoing development and daily hard work.
Action Off the Bench in Greece
During the subsequent fixture against Greece in Thessaloniki, El Mala began the match on the substitutes’ bench before entering the game. Teammate Lennart Karl earned a place in the starting lineup for the fixture in Greece.
Worth a look
