"It was the most emotional moment of my life!" Said El Mala Cries Uncontrollably After Goal
Said El Mala was deeply moved by his first goal for the German U21 team, scored shortly after the passing of his grandmother, Silla.
"When I scored the goal, everything just burst out of me. It was the most emotional moment of my life – I couldn't hold back my tears," the 19-year-old wrote on Instagram on Wednesday, sharing a photo of himself as a baby in his grandmother's arms.
El Mala had learned of his grandmother's death on Friday, shortly after the 3-0 victory against Northern Ireland in Braunschweig. Despite the tragic news, he traveled with the DFB team for the crucial European Championship qualifying match in Greece.
A day after the 2-0 win in Athens, he thanked his teammates. "In this difficult time, you gave me so much strength. Without you, none of this would have been possible. You made it easier for me to deal with the pain and move on," wrote the 1. FC Köln attacking player.
After scoring the opening goal, El Mala blew a kiss to the sky and wiped away his tears with his jersey, while his teammates consoled him. "I know deep in my heart that my grandma was watching from above and is incredibly proud of me. I will love you forever, Grandma Silla," El Mala concluded.
Fresh materials — Serie A
Michael Olise's 30-Minute Brilliance Leads France Past Belgium; Vincenzo Montella Under Pressure as Turkey Falters
France recovered from a deficit against Belgium, thanks to Michael Olise's 30-minute masterclass. Italy's repeated win over Turkey leaves coach Vincenzo Montella's job in jeopardy. Bayern star Michael Olise delivered a home win for French national team coach Zinedine Zidane in his first m
Karl-Anthony Towns' Bombshell Statement: A Knicks Meltdown Imminent?
Karl-Anthony Towns' contract situation is heating up. The New York Knicks co-star has caused a stir with a critical statement. Towns enters his final contract year, set to earn $57.1 million next season, with a player option for $61 million the following year. This means Towns could leave
Barcelona Dominates Real Madrid 7-0 in Clasico, Pina Nets Four
The German trio of Elisa Senß, Merle Frohms, and Sara Däbritz faced a severe defeat with Real Madrid against FC Barcelona in the Clasico. At Camp Nou on Sunday evening, Real conceded a devastating 0-7 loss, trailing by five goals before halftime. National player Senß and former DFB goa
Rudi Völler Defends Joshua Kimmich Amidst National Team Debate
Sporting Director Rudi Völler downplayed the discussions about Joshua Kimmich's role in the German national team. Like many players from the initial squad, Kimmich was sent home midway through the international break following a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands and a disappointing 0-1 hom
Oliver Kahn & Michael Ballack Weigh In on Joshua Kimmich Debate
Former national team captains Oliver Kahn and Michael Ballack have critically assessed the current discussion surrounding Joshua Kimmich. The DFB captain did not entirely emerge unscathed. "Klopp has delegated him out a bit for these two games to see how the group functions without him,"
Germany's Path to Nations League Quarter-Finals Under Jürgen Klopp: Standings, Schedule, and Opponents
Jürgen Klopp's German national team faces a critical juncture in the Nations League, with a place in the quarter-finals hanging in the balance. Here's how the DFB team can still advance and the current group standings. With four of six group games played, Germany's new era