The quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championship in Germany kick off with a bang: the host nation will play against top favorite Spain. On Friday, July 5, the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart will be the stage for this match. Will Germany be able to defeat the undefeated Spaniards, or will Spain eliminate the host nation?
Spain – Germany
Both teams are top favorites in this European Championship and have faced each other many times in major tournaments. Spain won the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, the final of the 2008 European Championship, and in the group stage of the 1984 European Championship. However, Germany won in the group stages of the 1966 and 1982 World Cups, as well as the 1976 and 1988 European Championships.
The last encounter between these two teams was played at the World Cup in Qatar. In the group stage, it ended 1-1, with goals from Alvaro Morata and Niclas Füllkrug. Both players are present at this major tournament again, so we might see a repeat of the World Cup match. However, this time there will have to be a clear winner after the match.
Spain
The Nations League winner came to this European Championship with high ambitions: to catch up with Germany as the nation with the most European Championship titles. As group winners and quarter-finalists, they seem well on their way to that ambition.
Spain is the only team to have completed the group stage without losing any points. Against Croatia, it became clear that this team is sharp and won’t miss many chances. That first match in the group stage ended 3-0. Italy also had to concede a few days later, although this time it was only 1-0.
In the previous round, Spain played against Georgia, which managed an upset against Portugal and thus advanced to the round of sixteen as one of the best third-placed teams. Within 20 minutes, it was 1-0 for the Georgians due to an own goal by Robin Le Normand. The score remained 1-0 for about 20 minutes before Rodrigo could equalize. After halftime, Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo also scored for Spain.
The Spanish attack is particularly strong now. Alvaro Morata is back, and Nico Williams adds movement during counter-attacks. We are still looking forward to seeing Lamine Yamal. The young forward hasn’t scored yet, but he is always searching for the right shot. With a goal, he would become the youngest scorer in a European Championship ever, a record currently held by Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen, who scored against France in 2004 at the age of 18.
Germany
The host nation still wants to make up for the poor results of recent years. Two years ago, at the World Cup in Qatar, the Germans were eliminated in the group stage with Japan and Spain. Even after that World Cup, it was difficult for a while, but Germany managed to beat France and the Netherlands. They have started this European Championship well.
Germany only had to give up points against Switzerland in the group stage. Toni Kroos’s team started strong in the opening match, defeating Scotland 5-1. They also performed well against Hungary, causing Hungary to lose for the second time in a row. In the next and final group stage match, the level dropped a bit, almost allowing Switzerland to become group winners. However, a late goal by Füllkrug made it 1-1.
On Saturday, Germany faced Denmark in the round of sixteen. Both teams created some chances, but it wasn’t until the 53rd minute that the first goal was scored. Kai Havertz converted a penalty due to a handball. Denmark then had to search for an equalizer, but it was Jamal Musiala who secured the final score 15 minutes later: 2-0 in favor of Germany.
The return of Toni Kroos may have already helped with the Germans’ performance. But it’s not just Kroos who is contributing to good football. The team has a spine with a lot of experience, including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defender Antonio Rüdiger, midfielders Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan, and forward Kai Havertz. The latter is also supported by Leverkusen striker Florian Wirtz and the young Jamal Musiala. Germany is thus a team with both experience and young talent, which might be a deadly combination for (almost) any opponent.
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