At just 19, Said El Mala has fought his way into 1. FC K\u00f6ln’s starting lineup and earned his first call-up to Germany’s senior national team.<\/p>\n
Germany and K\u00f6ln<\/a> legend Wolfgang Overath has followed the young attacker with keen interest and believes a bright future awaits him \u2013 if he plays his cards right.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the dynamism he carries the ball with, he doesn\u2019t stumble, he cuts inside, takes the shot and scores. If he keeps a level head, he has the potential to become a truly special player,” Overath told Krone Zeitung.<\/p>\n According to Overath, both El Mala and Bayern’s Lennart Karl, 17, could play a role at next year’s World Cup despite their young age.<\/p>\n “Hopefully, he can handle all the hype that\u2019s surrounding him right now,” Overath added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe same goes for the young [Lennart] Karl at Bayern Munich. There\u2019s no such thing as too young \u2013 I was already in the national team at 19, just like [Franz] Beckenbauer,” said Overath, who won the World Cup with Germany<\/a> in 1974.<\/p>\n