DPA
Stuttgart
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has said that they are not afraid of high-flying Spain or bothered by their poor recent against them when the two record champions clash in a blockbuster Euro 2024 quarter-final on Friday.
“We want to win the match. We want to reach the semi-finals and in the end become champions in our own country,” Nagelsmann told reporters on Thursday.
“We are ready and in a good spirit.” Captain Ilkay Gündogan agreed that “we are ready for a game on a equal footing” and that they can do into the match “with a smile.
“The atmosphere is good, unchanged, like at the previous games. There is no reason not to enter the match with confidence,” he said.
Last important win 36 years ago Germany have not beaten Spain at a big tournament since 1988, and lost both previous knock-out matches, the Euro 2008 final and 2010 World Cup semi-final.
The last victory came when the nation last hosted the Euros 36 years ago, and forward Jamal Musiala hopes that the team can do it again on Friday.
“We will do everything, for the country, for the coaching team, for everyone, so that we can win the title. That’s our motivation,” Musiala told Sky TV.
Yamal and Jamal There will be a big focus on Musiala and Spanish 16-year-old Lamine Yamal who together with fellow winger Nico Williams has dazzled for Spain, who are the only team to have won all four matches at the Euros.
“We’re not going to knock his socks off, we want the ball,” Nagelsmann said of Yamal, adding: “My focus is not so much on Yamal but rather on Jamal.
“We will have to solve many one-on-one situations,” the coach said.
Nagelsmann not fully sure of line-up Nagelsmann has a full squad to chose from as centre back Jonathan Tah is available again after a suspension.
Tah is expected to return into the heart of the defence next to Antonio Rüdiger after having to sit out the 2-0 last 16 victory over Denmark where he was replaced by Nico Schlotterbeck.
It however remains open whether Leroy Sané will start again up front instead of Florian Wirtz, who played in the group stage, and whether David Raum will be preferred as full back over Maximilian Mittelstädt again.
Nagelsmann said he has has “one or two question marks” regarding the starting 11, while adding on the Sané/Wirtz issue: “I can answer the question but I don’t want to answer it. I am convinced of Lee and Flo.”
