“They have some of the best players in the world” – Fuente, Nagelsmann prepare for Euro 2024 quarter-final showdown

Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente and Germany’s boss Julian Nagelsmann have shared their thoughts ahead of their crucial quarter-final clash on Friday at the MHPArena in Stuttgart, Soccernet.football reports.

Both teams are aiming for their fourth European Championship title. The winner of this match will face either Portugal or France in the semi-finals.

Spain, ranked eighth in the world by FIFA, have not lost in their last six competitive meetings with Germany (W3 D3) since 1998. Their most recent encounter was a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.

De la Fuente’s youthful and energetic side has impressed in the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals for the fourth time in their last five Euros. Still, the Spain coach retains a lot of respect for Germany, even when he is confident La Roja can power to the semifinals.

“Germany are a fantastic team, they have some of the best players in the world and they are very organised and disciplined,” Luis de la Fuente told UEFA.

“But they will come up against a team very similar to themselves: very dedicated, very well organised, hard to beat and hungry for success. I know it’s a cliche in football, but it’s the little details that will decide the outcome.”

Germany, the hosts, are aiming for their first European Championship title since 1996. They advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark. Germany have scored 10 goals, made 265 attacks, and have an average possession of 62% in the tournament so far.

With a strong home crowd behind them, Germany have become a formidable force. They are unbeaten in their last eight home games against Spain (W5 D3), and no host nation has ever been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of a European Championship.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann is banking on the moment gained during their first four games to help overcome the favoured Spaniards.

“There’s always room to grow,” Nagelsmann said.

“I was very happy with the first 20 minutes [against Denmark], but we have to make sure we don’t try to force it, stay patient and keep the ball. If we can keep doing what we did in those first 20 minutes, it will be tough to beat us.”

Germany, currently ranked 16th in the FIFA World Rankings, have won only two of their last 11 meetings with Spain. Their last victory was a 1-0 friendly win in November 2014, thanks to an 89th-minute goal from Toni Kroos.