European Championship quarter-finals - From Paris to the desert: the most important Spanish duels
Germany has a positive record against Spain. Although only two wins have been achieved in this century. The DFB record shows nine wins, nine draws, and eight losses with a score of 31:32. The EURO 2022 quarter-final on Friday (18.00 Uhr/ARD/Magenta TV) in Stuttgart is already the 13th mandatory match between both nations since the German 2:1 in the WM Group Stage in England in 1966. The record, if it were particularly meticulous: Four wins, four draws, four losses, 12:15 goals. Eight key matches against Spain:
EURO 1984: 20. June, Paris, Group Stage, 0:1
Germany is struggling through the tournament in France. A draw against Spain would still be enough for the semifinals. But then Antonio Maceda heads in late. 0:1. Germany is out. Jupp Derwall, the European Champion of 1980, has to go as the German trainer. Franz Beckenbauer takes over as DFB team manager.
EURO 1988: 17. June, Munich, Group Stage, 2:0
Spain was once again Germany's opponent at the last home EURO. A draw would once again lead to the semifinals. But this time Rudi Völler takes charge. Two striker goals - and the group stage victory is perfect. This time, Spain has to go home. But German luck only lasts until the semifinal loss against the Netherlands.
Völler's Debut 2000: 16. August, Hannover, Friendly, 4:1
Football Germany is lying low after the EURO disaster in Belgium and the Netherlands. As a placeholder for the designated Bundestrainer Christoph Daum, Rudi Völler takes over as interim coach. And the debut is a success. In Hannover, Spain is beaten 4:1. Mehmet Scholl and Alexander Zickler score the highest DFB victory against Spain.
EURO 2008: 29. June, Vienna, Final, 0:1
Right at his EURO debut as the German team manager, Joachim Löw leads the DFB team into the final. But there he faces the team he would later idolize. Spain is simply better in Vienna. Fernando Torres outmaneuvers Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. Germany has no answer with captain Michael Ballack. Spain wins the EURO title.
WM 2010: 7. July, Durban, Semifinal, 0:1
In Durban, a young, fresh German team takes the field. But it's Shooting Star and five-time goalscorer Thomas Müller who is missing, suspended. A powerful header from Carles Puyol cannot be defended by the German defense. Spain advances to the final and becomes World Champion. The German team is a World Champion in the hearts of the fans.
Vigo 2014: 18. November, Friendly, 1:0
A harsh November rain pours down in Galicia. But it's the evening when the Spain complex is finally conquered. World Champion Germany wins 1:0 in Vigo against Spain with a late goal from Toni Kroos. It is the only win under Bundestrainer Löw against the big rival - and the last one to date.
Sevilla 2020: 17. November, Nations League, 0:6
Another low point in the declining era of Löw. 0:6 it is in Sevilla. Toni Kroos and his teammates are outplayed. A debacle instead of a group stage victory in the Nations League. After some weeks of reflection, World Champion Coach Löw announces his retirement for the time after the EURO 2021.
WM 2022: 27. November, Al-Bayt, Group Stage, 1:1
Germany is under pressure at the World Cup in Qatar after a 1:2 disappointing start against Japan. Niclas Füllkrug saves a late 1:1 with a Joker-Goal in the Bedouin Stadium of Al-Bhayt. However, it was all in vain: Germany is eliminated after the group phase. Spain fails in the round of 16 against Morocco.
- The upcoming EURO 2022 quarter-final in Stuttgart against Spain marks the 13th mandatory match between Germany and Spain since their encounter in the World Cup Group Stage in England in 1966, as highlighted in the DFB record.
- Despite only two victories against Spain in this century, Germany has a positive record, showing nine wins, nine draws, and eight losses, resulting in a score of 31:32.
- Spain faced Germany in the last home EURO at Munich in 1988, where two striker goals from Rudi Völler secured a 2:0 group stage victory for Germany, pushing Spain out of the semifinals.
- In August 2000, Rudi Völler took over as the interim coach for Football Germany following the EURO disaster in Belgium and the Netherlands, leading to a triumphant 4:1 victory against Spain in Hannover, which remains the highest score for the DFB against Spain.
- Joachim Löw made his debut as the German team manager in EURO 2008, where he led the DFB team into the final but ultimately lost to Spain, with Fernando Torres exploiting gaps in the German defense.
- In the World Cup semifinal of 2010, Germany, without suspended star Thomas Müller, faced Spain in Durban, where a powerful header from Carles Puyol ensured Spain's 1:0 victory and eventual World Championship title.
- In a friendly match in Vigo 2014, Toni Kroos scored a late goal, ending Germany's long losing streak against Spain with a 1:0 victory, marking the first and only victory under Bundestrainer Löw against the arch-rival.
- Another dismal performance for the German team occurred in Sevilla 2020, when they were overwhelmed by Spain in a 0:6 defeat in the Nations League, leading to Löw's announcement of retirement for the time after EURO 2021.
- In the 2022 World Cup, both Germany and Spain experienced disappointments in the group stages, with Germany's Niclas Füllkrug salvaging a 1:1 draw against Japan, but eventually falling short of advancing past the group phase.
- The French city of Paris served as the setting for Spain's 1:0 victory against Germany in EURO 1984, which eliminated the European champion from the tournament, leading to the resignation of Jupp Derwall and the assumption of the DFB team manager role by Franz Beckenbauer.
- World-class soccer players like Löw, Völler, Müller, and Kroos are all part of Germany's soccer history, playing crucial roles in their matches against Spain, making their battles against each other memorable in the European Championship (EM) and other major international tournaments.
