By tonight, eight will have become six. The first two quarterfinal clashes of EURO2024 will take place on Friday, with a mammoth tie getting proceedings underway in Stuttgart when Luis de la Fuente’s Spain face off against the tournament hosts, Germany.
It is, to be frank, a disappointment that these two sides are meeting so early. On performances alone, this should be the final – but the bracket did not work that way, and instead the prize of this winner-takes-all clash is a berth in the final four, as opposed to the esteemed Henri Delauney Cup.
Spain are the only team at the tournament to have won all four of their matches thus far, topping Group B with nine points before seeing off Georgia by a 4-1 scoreline in the round-of-16. Of all those victories, it was their opening day triumph over Croatia that impressed the most: it was the first time since EURO2008 that la Roja picked up three points while having less than 50% possession.
As for die Mannschaft, there is a genuine feeling in Germany that maybe – just maybe – this could be the year in which 7 major tournament wins become eight. It could be the year in which Julian Nagelsmann’s men lay their hands on silverware on home soil for the first time since the 1974 World Cup, having reached the semifinals in both subsequent attempts.
What is the latest team news?
Luis de la Fuente should have his entire squad available for Friday evening’s match against Germany, with Ayoze Pérez and Nacho Fernández both understood to have overcome knocks ahead of this quarterfinal clash.
It’s unlikely either of them will be able to force their way into the starting eleven in Stuttgart though. With la Roja having seemingly discovered their winning formula, de la Fuente would perhaps be nothing short of foolish to tamper with it at this stage of the tournament.
For Germany, Julian Nagelsmann will welcome the return of Jonathan Tah following his suspension. The Bayer Leverkusen defender will likely slot straight back into the heart of the German backline, almost certainly at the expense of Nico Schlotterbeck.
Florian Wirtz may be recalled to the starting lineup for this clash too, after being dropped for Leroy Sané in the round-of-16. Elsewhere, Toni Kroos is expected to remain in the initial eleven for what could be his last-ever professional football match. He’ll retire following Germany’s elimination from EURO2024, whenever that may be.
Who are the key players?
This Spain side is brimming with talent. From the youthfulness of Lamine Yamal to the experience of Jesús Naval and Dani Carvajal, Luis de la Fuente seemingly has a plethora of key players to call upon.
The one we’re choosing to highlight is Fabián Ruiz. His exceptional performances have barely made the headlines, though he reaped the rewards for his efforts during la Roja‘s 4-1 victory over Georgia and netted the second goal just minutes after the break.
For Germany, we’re going with Toni Kroos. Is it a boring shout? Maybe, but everything is on the line for the 34-year-old. He’ll hang up his boots this summer: his career has, at most, nine days left. He’ll be keen to live out every one of them, bowing out on a high in Berlin on July 14.
What did the managers say?
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Luis de la Fuente joked that he wished Spain could shackle Toni Kroos to limit the power of Germany’s midfield – though he admitted “I don’t know if UEFA will let me!”
The 63-year-old also gave a general insight into his mindset for the game, and you can read more from his press conference here. The key quotes from Dani Carvajal are also included in that article.
On the other side of the tunnel, Julian Nagelsmann called for German supporters to make their home advantage count in Stuttgart on Friday. The boss also revealed that he has already “decided who’s starting and who’s not starting.”
You can hear more from Nagelsmann and captain İlkay Gündoğan here.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off for Spain v Germany is scheduled for 17:00 BST [18:00 CEST] on Friday 5th July.
Where can I watch Spain v Germany in the EURO2024 quarterfinals?
For those watching in the United Kingdom, Spain v Germany will be broadcast live by the ITV. Coverage gets underway at 16:00 BST. You’ll also be able to follow extensive coverage of this quarterfinal clash, and the entirety of EURO2024, right here on FromTheSpot.