The DFB team's biggest worry is Spain's super "brothers"
How strong is the German team now? In the home European championship, the first real test awaits in the quarterfinals: the Spanish national team. They have something that other German opponents have not had so far.
Toni Kroos has already come to a tragic realization. Whether he will become a road cyclist, a Bocce player, a stamp collector, a TV expert, or a podcaster after this European championship, the retirement life of the 34-year-old from Germany will never be able to fill him as much as football again, he said on Thursday in the well-filled DFB press center in Herzogenaurach Quarter.
For three days now, Kroos has been without a club, and his employment contract at Real Madrid has expired after more than ten years. It's a strange feeling, he let his followers on Instagram know. The late Friday evening could still get even stranger: Then the active career of the six-time Champions League winner might come to an end. In the quarterfinals of the home EM, the German team faces Spain (6 PM/ARD, MagentaTV and in the ntv.de live ticker).
Perhaps it's already the anticipated final of this tournament. Germany versus Spain. It's the duel of two football nations that have always been special - and the German team last won an EM against Spain in 1988. It was in Munich, with a score of 2:0. At the time, Rudi Völler, the good-mood sports director, was still a national player himself. Spain and the German team have always entertained with euphoric football - unlike other quarterfinalists. Above all, France and England bored, the Netherlands only had their awakening moment in the 3:0 against Romania in the round of 16.
The dangerous "brothers"
It all sounds promising. Hardly anyone who was asked about it in the past few days agreed with these observations. For the German team, this will be the first real test at this tournament. So far, they have been difficult to grasp for all those who observe them. Somehow good, but somehow also with weakness phases. After the Spain game, that will be over. Then it will be clear what this team can do, which has only existed as such for three months and which we have always had to watch while they were still learning.
Spain will be the first opponent in this tournament who will not adapt their attitude for the German team. On the contrary: They have expanded the possession football of the past and have become more focused over the years. And unlike against Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland, or Denmark, there are two extremely dangerous wingers in Spain: The German team has Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, Spain has the two "brothers" Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. One is 21 years old, the other is only 16.
The two quick wing forwards have already torn holes in the defensive lines of the Spanish team in the previous EM games. Playful, unpredictable, and above all fast: The Croatian defensive line probably still has nightmares about Yamal's agility. Their performance can also be statistically documented: Williams, who plays for Athletic Bilbao, currently has one goal and one assist in three appearances. Yamal, from FC Barcelona, has already given two assists in four games. Their wit, their tempo, their dribbling: All that could also pose problems for the defense of the German team - especially the outside defenders.
This duel is expected to take place as well. Two positions that were major issues before the March international friendlies remain: the outside defenders. The Spanish super-brothers are likely to face Joshua Kimmich and David Raum. The latter was called up to the first team instead of Maximilian Mittelstadt against Switzerland. Kimmich, on the other hand, has been playing for a longer time. However, the Bayern star has a problem: He is not the fastest. In the past, he had issues with quick dribblers, such as Vinicius Jr. from Real Madrid. But he can hide it well: At the March international friendlies, he managed to contain France's Kylian Mbappe.
"Gamechangers" or overhyped?
Perhaps this is part of the new communication strategy of the German team, but the national team goes into the duel with surprisingly little respect. Of course, there is a lot of praise beforehand. Kroos explained to the Spanish journalists present on Thursday: "These two super-dribblers can become 'gamechangers'. And Yamal was, without exaggeration, one of the most dangerous players of FC Barcelona." It's impressive how consistently the 16-year-old plays, said the veteran of Real Madrid.
Leroy Sané also praised the two Spaniards the day before. "They are two very strong players, dribble-skilled. For a 16-year-old to play football like that is very impressive," he said. "It's fun to watch him, as I play the same position, I'm looking forward to the match." Even half of the German full-back duo acknowledged that it wouldn't be easy. "We are facing a big challenge," Raum admitted on Tuesday.
However, there is a big but: The German team seems to have a plan. "We need to focus on the middle," said Kimmich. Recently, Yamal and Williams have been pulling their strong foot towards the inside. The big challenge should be solved collectively, said Kroos. "We want to be a different opponent for Spain than before," he explained. "And we'll try to keep them on a short leash." However, the German team sees the whole thing differently: The quarterfinal will be decided in the center, not the wings. It comes down to who wins the duels there, who controls the midfield.
"Don't count on it being my last game"
And then there's Kroos. He controls the game for the German team. Alongside him will go the "worker" Robert Andrich and captain Ilkay Gündogan. Both teams want to have a lot of ball possession, said Kroos. The crucial phases are those in which the opponent has the ball, it will come down to those situations.
However, it's not as if the Spanish midfield is poorly staffed - quite the opposite. Manchester City star Rodri is the Kroos counterpart. His coach Luis de la Fuente called him after the 4:1 victory in the round of 16 against Georgia a "perfect computer" who manages everything, even emotions. Alongside him, the artists Pedri and Fabian Ruiz play, who can also handle the ball well.
At the end, it comes down to the special moments that both teams can deliver. "Our team's faith has grown significantly in the past few months", says Kroos, who neither wants to accept nor believes in the prospect of retirement this Friday evening. "I don't expect it to be my last game", he says. What gives him confidence? The Nagelsmanns have mastered many difficult situations in the recent games: comebacks, centimeter-close calls, patience tests. Time and again, they have emerged victorious from such situations.
And who knows, maybe the biggest concern of the German national team, the Spanish super brothers, will also become the greatest opportunity. Captain Gündogan spoke about the young Yamal in ARD. He is fast in offense, but "his activity in defense is not the greatest, he still has a lot to learn. That could give us opportunities to occupy spaces that he doesn't cover well", Gündogan said. If that works out, Toni Kroos wouldn't have to look at rally cars or stamps on Saturday morning, but prepare for the semifinal.
The German team will face Spain's "brothers" Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal in the quarterfinals of the European Football Championship 2024, a challenge they've been preparing for. Despite their impressive performances so far, Spain's wingers have been causing trouble for defenders, including the Croatian defensive line with their speed and unpredictability.
After Kroos's retirement realization, he will need to contain these young Spanish wingers in the quarterfinals. Kroos has acknowledged their skills, calling Williams a 'gamechanger' and Yamal 'one of the most dangerous players' he's seen, but the German team seems to have a strategy to minimize their impact.
