Spain vs. Germany: Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Preview

Two of the top contenders clash in Stuttgart this Friday as Germany hosts Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-finals (kick-off at 6pm CEST).

Germany, the host nation, has reached the quarter-finals for the fourth time in the last five Euros, leading the competition with 10 goals in their four matches.

Julian Nagelsmann’s squad dominated Scotland with a 5-1 win, followed by a 2-0 victory over Hungary to secure their knockout spot.

Niclas Füllkrug’s late equalizer against Switzerland ensured Germany topped Group A, leading them to face Denmark in Dortmund.

Kai Havertz’s penalty and Jamal Musiala’s third tournament goal – making him joint-top scorer – propelled Germany into the last eight. Musiala, returning to his birthplace Stuttgart, is a guaranteed starter.

Despite calls for Füllkrug to start, Havertz is likely to maintain his position, given his impressive record as a super-sub with four goals from the bench in major tournaments.

Florian Wirtz might replace Leroy Sané, while Jonathan Tah is expected to return at center-back alongside Antonio Rüdiger after serving a suspension.

Rüdiger, Maximilian Mittelstädt, and Robert Andrich are all one booking away from missing a potential semi-final in Munich.

Toni Kroos, well-acquainted with Spanish players after a decade in Spain, aims to extend his career a few more games before retiring.

Spain’s young team has also shone at Euro 2024, winning all four matches and trailing only Germany in goals scored with nine.

They opened with a 3-0 win over Croatia, followed by 1-0 victories against Italy and Albania, even with a largely rotated squad.

In the round of 16, Spain overcame an early deficit against Georgia with a four-goal comeback finished by Dani Olmo of RB Leipzig.

Olmo, who started on the bench in Cologne, will likely do so again, as coach Luis de la Fuente has settled on his preferred lineup.

This means Alejandro Grimaldo, Bundesliga’s top assist-maker, will remain a substitute.

Yamine Lamal and Nico Williams will flank Álvaro Morata upfront, with former Leverkusen full-back Dani Carvajal anchoring a defense that has conceded just once this tournament.

Match Stats

·         Three of Jamal Musiala’s five goals for Germany have come in this tournament, making him the second-youngest player to reach three Euros goals after Wayne Rooney of England.

·         Kai Havertz has four goals at Euros finals, behind only Jürgen Klinsmann and Mario Gomez (both with five) for Germany.

·         Manuel Neuer has played in 19 games at Euros finals, surpassing Bastian Schweinsteiger's German record of 18.

·         Leipzig’s Dani Olmo leads Europe in most assists at major international tournaments since 2020 with five.

·         Germany narrowly leads the head-to-head with nine wins to Spain’s eight, plus nine draws. At Euros finals, Spain has the edge 2-1, including their 2008 final victory.

·         Germany and Spain are the most successful teams in European Championship history, each with three titles.

Probable Line-ups

Spain:

Simón - Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella - Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz - Yamal, Morata (c), Williams

Coach: Luis de la Fuente

Germany:

Neuer - Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah, Raum - Andrich, Kroos - Wirtz, Gündoğan (c), Musiala - Havertz

Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Out: Ginter (Achilles), Gnabry (hamstring), Pavlović (tonsillitis)        

Rest of squad: Baena, Grimaldo, Joselu, López, Merino, Nacho, Navas, Olmo, Oyarzabal, Pérez, Raya, Remiro, Torres, Vivian, Zubimendi, Baumann, Ter Stegen, Anton, Beier, Can, Führich, Füllkrug, Groß, Henrichs, Koch, Mittelstädt, Müller, Sané, Schlotterbeck, Undav

Source: bundesliga

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.