Germany versus Spain is the first and at the same time most spectacular affair in the quarter-finals. In Stuttgart on Friday, the hosts will be seeking revenge for painful defeats.
It is the duel between two of the most frequently named favorites for the European Championship title: on the one hand, the hosts Germany, who started the home tournament so briskly, then struggled a little from time to time, but ultimately fought their way into the quarter-finals with aplomb. On the other side are the refreshing Spaniards, who breezed through the tough group with European champions Italy, World Cup bronze medallists Croatia and Albania and also made short work of surprise team Georgia in the round of 16.
Germany versus Spain is also the clash of the super youngsters. Jamal Musiala (21) and Florian Wirtz (21) liven up Germany's attacking play, while Lamine Yamal (16) and Nico Williams (21) form Spain's spectacular wing-back line. No need to say who has the advantage in these positions.
The same applies to the playmaker's position, which is held by Manchester City's Rodri on one side and Toni Kroos, who recently won the Champions League with Real Madrid and will end his career after the European Championships, on the other. The match between the two record winners of the European Championship (three titles each) is a duel of equals. This has usually been the case when the two nations have met. In the recent past, however, the Spaniards have usually had the upper hand.
Germany's last victory over Spain in a competitive match dates back to June 1988, when they won 2-0 in the group stage of the European Championship. As gray as the memories of the German victories over the Iberians are, the defeats are just as present. At the 2008 European Championship, Germany lost 1-0 in the final in Vienna, and two years later at the World Cup in South Africa, the semi-final was the last stop - another 1-0 defeat to Spain.
The sting of the 6-0 defeat in Seville, when the team - then still under Jogi Löw - was put to the sword in the Nations League, still runs deep. Today's German national team has little in common with the team of late fall 2020. National coach Julian Nagelsmann has brought new players and a breath of fresh air into the team. And he wants to take advantage of the euphoria in the country to finally defeat their fearsome opponents at a tournament again.
The possible line-ups
Spain - Germany
Stuttgart. - Friday, 18.00 hrs. - Referee Taylor (ENG).
Spain: 23 Simon; 2 Carvajal, 3 Le Normand, 14 Laporte, 24 Cucurella; 10 Olmo, 16 Rodri, 8 Ruiz; 19 Yamal, 7 Morata, 17 Williams.
Germany: 1 Neuer; 6 Kimmich, 2 Rüdiger, 4 Tah, 3 Raum; 23 Andrich, 6 Kroos; 10 Musiala, 21 Gündogan, 17 Wirtz; 7 Havertz.
