European Football Championship - Spectacle of Spain loosens the mouth
For Spain, it's a Clásico - the highest potential for a football match. A super game. When La Roja faces Germany in the EURO 2024 quarter-finals at Stuttgart on Friday (18:00 CET/ARD and MagentaTV), it should only be a step towards their first title since 2012. The Spaniards are brimming with self-confidence after their first four wins. And they don't shy away from a provocation or two.
Dani Olmo, RB Leipzig's forward, sees the German team under more pressure. "A win is almost mandatory for them at home." Trainer Luis de la Fuente repeatedly emphasized the importance of "keeping both feet on the ground." However, the joy and dominance with which his team played in the tournament so far has even loosened the lips of his professionals.
Pedri complains about "nudging" from Rudiger
Playmaker Pedri complained about bad experiences with defender Antonio Rudiger ahead of the clash between the three-time European champions. "He's a powerful central defender and very good, but there's no need to be afraid of him," the 21-year-old from FC Barcelona told Radio Marca. "His nudging seems disrespectful to me because it hurts and annoys."
Born in Stuttgart, former Bundesliga striker Joselu once threatened that the Spaniards would end the career of his former Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos: "I believe Friday is the last game for Toni." Young star Lamine Yamal said, "I don't see a better team than ours."
Kroos, Real Madrid's enduring figure Luka Modric, England's Jude Bellingham, and his future Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé were the biggest headlines on Spanish sports portals at the start of the EURO. Now, the national team has moved into the spotlight even more than the daily transfer news from Real and Barcelona.
A Selection with Speed Football
The 2010 World Cup champions are once again being tipped for greatness with a team that has bid farewell to the increasingly stale Tiki-Taka and shines with Speed Football. The dismal World Cup performances - group stage elimination in 2014, elimination in the round of 16 in 2018 and 2022 - should belong to the past in Germany. The EURO 2021 semifinalist impresses with a mix of veterans and top talents.
Will 16-year-old Yamal and his skillful wing partner Nico Williams (21) confuse the German defense and celebrate again after the final whistle? Will they disrupt Rodri, whom his Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola calls the "best midfielder in the world," and who has been so strong so far in Fabián Ruiz? Will Daniel Carvajal and Marc Cucurella - the one with the wild dreadlocks - have everything under control as outside defenders?
"Spain plays faster – and with a higher rhythm than Germany. I am rock-solid convinced that we will advance," said the former World and European champion coach Vicente del Bosque (73) in an interview with "Sport Bild." "After 36 years, it's time that we beat Spain in a tournament again," remarked the German record national player Lothar Matthäus.
Lehmann's statements cause a stir
Such statements are widely spread in the enemy's country. For much excitement in the Spanish media were the sentences of Jens Lehmann. "They are actually of quality perhaps even a tick better than us. But they are too small in body size and they are very inexperienced," said the former national goalkeeper in an interview with Welt-TV. And: "That is actually a youth team partly, because they have two strikers up front who are extremely young."
Forward Mikel Oyarzabal commented on it dismissively: "Just another opinion." Playmaker Pedri referred to the fact that small players have already achieved a lot at FC Barcelona. Doubts certainly do not emerge from the quarters of the Germany opponent in Donaueschingen. "I am convinced that they are not so happy to face us now," said Rodri after the quarterfinal entry.
For Sergio Busquets, who won the U21 EURO final with the Spanish youth in 2019 together with Olmo, it is clear: "We are dealing with a football power." He speaks of the "German machine," but also said: "We have our tools and our strengths and are confident in our cause."
- Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish coach, emphasized the importance of maintaining humility as La Roja prepares for the EURO 2024 quarterfinals against Germany in Stuttgart.
- Pedri, a key player for Spain, voiced his concerns about potential rough tactics from Germany's Antonio Rudiger, citing his past encounters with the defender as a source of annoyance.
- Born in Stuttgart, Joselu once threatened to end Toni Kroos' career during a heated exchange between Real Madrid and Spain, a reminder of the intense rivalry between the two teams.
- RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo has expressed confidence in Spain's chances against Germany, stating that they have yet to face a team better than their own.
- German sports portals have been abuzz with debate over Spain's impressive form at EURO 2024, with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé often featuring in headlines.
- Pedri criticized Antonio Rudiger's "nudging" as disrespectful, adding that the German defender's tactics were unnecessary and unprofessional.
- The Spanish team, now led by Speed Football instead of the traditional Tiki-Taka, aims to overcome their disappointing World Cup performances and claim European glory.
- With the addition of young talents like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, Spain hopes to confuse and outmaneuver Germany's defense, seeking a repeat of their success in previous matches.
- Amidst the hype, Vicente del Bosque, a former World and European champion coach, expressed his belief in Spain's ability to advance, calling their playstyle faster and more rhythmic than Germany's.
- Jens Lehmann's comments, criticizing Spain's size and inexperience, have sparked controversy in the Spanish media, with players like Mikel Oyarzabal and Sergio Busquets dismissing them as mere opinions.
- Despite Lehmann's doubts, Rodri remains confident in Spain's abilities, acknowledging their status as a formidable football power and promising to defend their position in the 2024 EURO quarterfinals.
