EM 2024 - Why Nagelsmann relies on Sané and Can: This team starts against Spain
The German football national team starts the EM quarter-final against Spain with Leroy Sané and surprisingly also with Emre Can in the starting line-up. National coach Julian Nagelsmann uses Can instead of Robert Andrich from Leverkusen in the defensive midfield for the knockout game on Friday in Stuttgart. Sane receives the preference in offense again over young star Florian Wirtz, who sits on the bench.
Nagelsmann explained his substitutions to the "ARD Sportschau": "There's a lot of space behind the Spanish defense during counter-attacks and they have a certain counter-attacking threat, and Sané is very, very good at that," the national coach said. The switch from Andrich to Can is also due to the speed of Dortmund's captain: "Emre brings a lot of tempo with him, so we have an additional tempo player on the pitch. His task will be to contain Fabian Ruiz, as he has a significant speed advantage, which will play a crucial role," Nagelsmann explained.
Leroy Sané and David Raum back in the team
Jonathan Tah returns to the defense center after his yellow card suspension. David Raum starts again as the left defender and is supposed to stop the 16-year-old Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal. The German team is led by captain Ilkay Gündogan. For the 34-year-old Toni Kroos, it would be his last football game if Germany were to exit. The Spanish team starts with their proven top eleven without Leipzig's Dani Olmo.
- David Raum's task as the left defender is to contain Spain's 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, with Jonathon Tah returning to the defense center after his suspension.
- Emre Can replaces Robert Andrich from Leverkusen in the defensive midfield, bringing additional tempo to the German team to counteract Fabian Ruiz's speed advantage.
- Despite his yellow card suspension, Jonathan Tah returns to the defense center, allowing Leroy Sané and David Raum to regain their positions in the starting line-up for the quarter-final match against Spain.
- Julian Nagelsmann prefers Leroy Sané in offense over Florian Wirtz, citing his abilities during counter-attacks and his ability to find space behind Spain's defense.
- In a surprising move, the German national team includes both Leroy Sané and Emre Can in the starting line-up for the EM quarter-final against Spain, with the former receiving preference over young star Wirtz.
