The two most successful national teams in Europe, Germany and Spain, will lock horns on Friday, July 5, 2024, in a highly-anticipated Euro 2024 quarter-final clash.
The victor of the contest will trade tackles with either Portugal or France for a place in the final of the tournament. Who is likely to carry the day in Stuttgart between Spain and Germany? Here, we bring you a detailed preview of the match and prediction.
Spain preview
After winning all three group games at the 2024 European Championship, Spain remain the only nation at Euro 2024 that boasts a perfect record from four matches after coming from behind to beat Georgia 4-1 in the last 16.
They were stunned in the 18th minute when Robin Le Normand inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net to put Georgia ahead – the first goal that La Roja have conceded at Euro 2024. However, Rodri restored parity on the stroke of half time, before Spain went on to outclass a courageous Georgia outfit in the second half.
Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo were all on the scoresheet to complete the turnaround in prolific fashion and extend Spain’s unbeaten run at the European Championship to 10 matches (excluding penalty shootouts).
Spain head into the blockbuster clash, having not lost any of their last six competitive meetings (W3 D3) with Germany dating back to 1998.
Their most recent meeting during the 2022 World Cup ended in a 1-1 draw in the group stage.
Germany preview
Germany remain on course to win their first European Championship title since 1996 after they battled past a competitive Denmark outfit to win 2-0 in the round of 16 last Saturday.
On a night of high drama, Germany prevailed courtesy of second-half goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala – the latter is now one of four players at the top of the Euro 2024 scoring charts with three goals.
Germany rank in the top three for the most goals scored (10), most attacks (265), most attempts on goal (71), highest average possession (62%), and goals conceded (two) heading into the last eight of Euro 2024, and with a vibrant home crowd behind them, Die Mannschaft have become a force to be reckoned with.
They are 16th on the FIFA World Rankings amid their recent woes and have won only two of their last 11 meetings with Spain in all competitions. Also, they are unbeaten in their last eight games against La Roja on home soil (W5 D3).
Team News
Spain are expected to name an unchanged starting lineup on Friday, with 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams set to join captain Alvaro Morata in a three-man attack.
Both Olmo and Mikel Merino will be pushing to start ahead of Pedri in center-midfield, but the latter is still expected to continue in the first XI alongside Rodri and Fabian Ruiz.
Nacho Fernandez has reportedly recovered from a minor foot injury to make himself available for selection. Dani Carvajal and Marc Cucurella are likely to continue as full-backs.
As for Germany, Florian Wirtz could, Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and other key first-team players are available for the game.
Niclas Fullkrug scored an equaliser in the aforementioned 1-1 draw with Spain at the 2022 World Cup, and is not likely to replace Kai Havertz in the central attack. Kroos, Andrich, and Ilkay Gundogan are likely to lead the attack.
Spain probable lineup: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
Germany probable lineup: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Raum; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz
Our prediction
Spain have been impressive in the tournament and are likely to win the match. Both sides are likely to score but Spain will win 2-1.
