European Football Championship: Spain’s fun footballers ready for Germany duel

After Spain’s mega-talent Lamine Yamal confidently issued a challenge to the DFB team after their confident entry into the European Championship quarter-finals. “I don’t see any team better than ours. We really want to get into the semi-finals,” said the 16-year-old super dribbler about the upcoming duel with Germany.

After another gala performance in the 4:1 win against the brave underdog Georgia on Sunday evening in Cologne, the Furia Roja fears nothing and no one in the tournament. Not even the European Championship hosts. “We are ready for all possible circumstances and hope that we can play three more games,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente before the quarter-finals on Friday in Stuttgart.

Spain dreams of fourth title

For Georgia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, one thing is clear: “Spain is a great team and can easily win the European Championship.” The Spaniards themselves firmly believe in this. “Our goal from day one was to win, always to win,” said Yamal about the three-time champions’ consistently convincing European Championship performances so far.

De la Fuente has formed a team in which everything fits together and which has both the necessary discipline and a refreshing enthusiasm for the game. The latter is mainly due to the nimble wingers Yamal and Nico Williams (21), who work together brilliantly on and off the field.

Wing tongs delight

On Sunday, the two young stars first did a little celebratory dance on the pitch after Williams scored to make it 3-1. After the final whistle, the two duelled in the old children’s game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to see who could drink from a water bottle first. “We complement each other very well,” said Williams about his relationship with Yamal.

You don’t have to be a prophet to guess: German full-backs Joshua Kimmich and David Raum have a lot of hard work ahead of them. The carefree, fun footballers are lightning fast and can hardly be separated from the ball – and despite their youth, it’s hard to imagine the team without them. “They are two very important players for us and give us that youth and innocence that is sometimes so important,” said Rodri about the duo.

The 28-year-old from English champions Manchester City is the head of the team, which hardly reveals any weaknesses. “He is the centre of our game,” said de la Fuente in praise of the central midfielder. If there is anything to criticise about the Spaniards, it is that they sometimes get too carried away with their impressive combination football and lose their focus for a short time. “We have to keep working on our strengths and get even better,” said de la Fuente.

Respect for Germany, but no fear

It is not only the coach who is aware that Germany is a different calibre team. “We are up against a footballing power. We will face a great opponent with individually strong players. It will be a duel on equal terms in which small details will make the difference,” warned the 63-year-old, adding: “The next game could also be the final.”

The two teams have already faced each other there. In 2008, Spain beat the German national team 1-0 in the European Championship final – and two years later in the World Cup semi-final. The overall record of the two teams is almost even. Of the 26 duels so far, Germany has won nine and Spain eight. There has been no winner on nine occasions. That is out of the question on Friday.

The Spaniards are already looking forward to the next knockout challenge against the team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “We have a wonderful team and confidence in ourselves. If we carry on like this, we still have a lot to do. If we play at this level again, we can win,” said Williams. And Rodri made a quip about the DFB team: “I am convinced that they are not so happy to meet us now.”