SPAIN are up against Germany tonight in a massive Euro 2024 quarter-final match-up.
Both sides have been touted as favourites to win it all and will play the winner of Portugal’s match-up with France.
- Kick-off time: 5pm BST
- Stream/TV: ITVX/ITV1
- Spain XI: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabian; Lamine, Morata, Williams
- Germany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Raum; Can, Kroos; Sane, Gundogan, Musiala; Havertz
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Spain 0-0 Germany
5. The ball is played into Pedri, who looks to let the ball run and get on the attack.
He is wiped out by Kroos, sending the young Spaniard flying in the air.
de la Fuente is furious on the touchline that the German has not been shown a card for the challenge.
Credit: AFP Spain 0-0 Germany
3. This match has been huge news in Germany this week.
Competing in their first quarter-final since 2016, the hosts are hoping they can go all the way this time.
Spain have started on the front-foot, looking to put Die Mannschaft undr some early pressure.
Spain 0-0 Germany
1. Both sides are getting stuck into the early challenges.
Williams then plays the ball into Morata in the penalty-area.
He lays it off to Pedri, who strikes it first time, but his effort is straight at Manuel Neuer.
Kick-off: Spain vs Germany
We are underway in Stuttgart.
There is not a single empty seat in the MHPArena for this one.
Germany get the game started.
History favours the hosts
No host nation has ever been eliminated from the quarter-final stages of the Euros, with all four teams previously at this stage progressing.
This will be Germany’s 19th quarter-final at a major tournament, having progressed 15 times from their previous 18 attempts.
Die Manschaft’s record is the highest of any European nation at major tournaments.
Atmosphere building to fever-pitch
The MHPArena is ramping up in terms of noise levels.
Whenever the hosts play, you can expect a cauldron of noise.
Spain have been well-supported at the tournament and their team have given them plenty to celebrate so far.
Credit: PA Credit: EPA View from SunSport’s Jordan Davies in Stuttgart
Sweet Caroline is being blasted around the Stuttgart Arena and this has the feeling of a special game – Spain boss Luis de la Fuente admitted it is big enough to be the final.
But, this is a quarter final, one that will see a big hitter go home, so who will it be? The hosts Germany or the in-form Spaniards?
Talking of big-hitting, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has warned 16-year-old Barca star Lamine Yamal that his big defenders will get physical with him to see if he has the nerve to react on this sort of stage.
But Nagelsmann is more worried about the other side of the pitch with Nico Williams on the left – a shining light of this tournament so far – hence why he has brought in Leroy Sane instead of Florian Wirtz to cover the space with his pace.
Whatever happens tonight, it will be a shock to the Euros system. England – on the other side of the draw – will be watching on with interest…
Winner takes it all
Whoever comes out on top in Stuttgart this evening will no doubt become the favourite to go on and win Euro 2024.
With both sides in the tougher side of the draw, the semi-final will be another challenge, but this is the pick of the ties for the quarter-finals.
From what we have seen from both teams so far, goals should be on the menu.
Germany have ‘plan B’ in wings
While Havertz starts as the striker for the Germans today, should they need to change tactics, they have a perfect replacement.
Fullkrug has scored goals when coming off the bench and plays as a more traditional striker.
With Havertz usually anywhere on the pitch but in the box, Nagelsmann can quite easily mix it up against Spain.
Spain stunned in ’round of 16′
Things did not go all to plan against Georgia in the last round.
de la Fuente’s fell behind after Le Normand had the misfortune of scoring an own goal.
However, goals from Rodri, Ruiz, Williams and Olmo lead to a convincing 4-1 victory.
Fans looking forward to epic clash
As the MHPArena starts to fill up, there is a sea of colour.
Both sets of fans are in party mood and want to see their team progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
It should be a cauldron of noise in Stuttgart as we edge closer to kick-off.
Credit: AP Credit: AP Credit: EPA La Roja firing on all cylinders
Spain have won six games in a row in 2024 to date.
Luis de la Fuente has only lost one game of his last sixteen as the Spain manager, a surprise defeat against Scotland in March 2023.
They will go into today’s game looking to break German hearts, ending the hosts participation in Euro 2024.
Germany starting XI:
Nagelsmann opts to tinker with his side a little to take on the might of Spain in Stuttgart this evening.
1. Neuer, 3. Raum, 4. Tah, 2. Rudiger, 6. Kimmich, 8. Kroos, 25. Can, 10. Musiala, 21. Gundogan, 19. Sane, 7. Havertz
Credit: @DFB_Team_EN Spain starting XI:
Luis de la Fuente opts to not tinker with the side that got them to the quarter-finals this evening.
23. Simon, 24. Cucurella, 14. Laporte, 3. Le Normand, 2. Carvajal, 8. Ruiz, 16. Rodri, 20. Pedri, 17. Williams, 7. Morata, 19. Yamal
Die Mannschaft full of confidence
Germany come into this match unbeaten in 2024, having won six of the eight games they have played.
They have not tasted defeat since back-to-back losses in November against Turkey and Austria.
Nagelsmann’s side have won three of their four matches in the tournament so far, scoring ten goals and conceding just two.
From Croydon with love
Julian Nagelsmann follows the trend of modern football as his side tends to play without an out and out striker.
Their real danger-man is Croydon raised Jamal Musiala who spent time at Chelsea’s academy and even played for England at all levels right up to Under-21.
He then opted to change his allegiance to the nation of his birth, Germany, continuing to flourish at his club Bayern Munich.
Goal threat across pitch
Spain come into this game as many peoples’ favourites to win Euro 2024 with how they have started.
They are not reliant on one focal scorer for their goals and spread the burden across the squad.
While their wingers will be of focus this evening, even the likes of Rodri is capable of pinging a pearlier in from outside the box as he showed against Georgia.
Boss speaks of focus for game
German manager Nagelsmann told the media problems the Spanish wingers offer his team:
It’s not a final, it’s a quarter-final. We want to be one of the teams in the semi-final. Spain want to be champions as well, so it’ll be a tough game. Both teams are good in possession, have good counter-pressing qualities and can put their opponents under pressure. Let’s see how he reacts when things get tough. You can’t defend him completely. You have to be prepared for different things. My focus is less on Yamal, more on Jamal [Musiala]. We can do something in attack ourselves.
Julian Nagelsmann
Wingers keys to Spanish success
In the build-up to this game, the German coaches must have been focussing on tactics to prevent the flying Spanish wingers.
Williams and Yamal have proved too much for most teams and will ask serious questions of Germany in this game in Stuttgart.
If you want to win some silverware, there is no doubting you must beat the best teams to win that right.
Hosts with huge challenge ahead
Germany have looked in good form in Euro 2024, giving home fans hope that they can go on and win the trophy on home soil.
However, there is no doubting that Spain have looked the most impressive side in the tournament so far and if Nagelsmann is going to keep that dream alive they will need put in some performance this evening.
La Roja will provide the sternest test of the German defence and for the neutrals it offers to be the game of the Euros so far.
Welcome to Spain vs Germany
The pick of the quarter-finals takes place tonight as the hosts take on the favourites at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart.
Spain are expected to name an unchanged line-up for the game, with 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams set to join Alvaro Morata in a three man attack.
Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino will be pushing for a start ahead of Pedri in the heart of midfield but the Barcelona man is expected to keep his place alongside Rodri and Fabian Ruiz.
Nacho has recovered from a minor foot injury but is unlikely to displace Le Normand or Aymeric Laporte in the centre of defence, while Dani Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should continue as full-backs.
Julian Nagelsmann could tinker with his side once again and may recall centre-back Jonathan Tah, who served a suspension in the last 16, at the expense of Nico Schlotterbeck.
Maximillian Mittelstadt was dropped against Denmark and will be looking to force his way back into the line-up ahead of David Raum, while Florian Wirtz could return on the left side of the attack at the expense of Leroy Sane, allowing Jamal Musiala to move over to the right.
Kai Havertz is expected to keep his spot as the central striker despite Niclas Fullkrug pushing for a place in Nagelsmann’s side.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
