Spain v Germany: The ultimate showdown

With both teams in fine form at this year’s EUROs, many tipped this very fixture to be the final of the spectacle.

Instead, European giants Spain and Germany will lock horns on Friday, 5 July, in the first quarter-final of the tournament.

The game, which will be played at the MHP Arena and will kick off at 6pm, will be shown live on Showmax Premier League.

There are several key players to look out for in both teams, including the likes of veteran Toni Kroos, and Spain’s wonderkid Jamal Musiala.

Ahead of the mouthwatering clash, Showmax takes a look at the players who could make a difference in the game.

Catch the quarter-final clash between Spain and Germany, live on Showmax Premier League, on Friday, 5 July, at 6pm

Germany

Toni Kroos

• Midfielder
• Club: Real Madrid

Toni Kroos has a bunch of his buddies all wanting the same thing on Friday — for his long and esteemed career to come to an abrupt and painful end.

But they know very well how influential the German captain is, having seen him dominate games in Spain for years.

Kroos, who has announced his retirement from international football after the EUROs, has been his usual rock-solid self during Germany’s outstanding run so far. The squad has cruised through three wins and a draw against Switzerland and established itself as one of the elite teams in the competition, despite some struggles in the build-up.

The six-time Champions League winner started off the tournament with a bang, putting in a rock-solid shift against Scotland.

The retiring 34-year-old star made 55 passes in the first half with 100 per cent accuracy in the hosts’ 5-1 victory over Scotland.

He has continued that form throughout the tournament and is expected to be a highly influential player in their quarter-final clash against Spain.

Jamal Musiala

• Forward
• Club: Bayern Munich

Jamal Musiala has been a revelation for Germany at EURO 2024. Nicknamed the “future Messi” by some, the young midfielder has silenced doubters about his international experience. After an injury-hit club season, he’s exploded on the international stage, scoring in each of Germany’s opening two matches and adding another crucial goal in the knockout round against Denmark. Now the joint top scorer with three goals, Musiala’s dribbling ability and knack for finding the net have been a major factor in Germany’s success. He’s not just a goal scorer though – his creativity and passing are propelling Germany’s attack and making him a strong contender for the Young Player of the Tournament award.

Florian Wirtz

• Attacking midfielder
• Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Wirtz burst onto the EURO 2024 scene with a bang, scoring the opening goal of the tournament for Germany. While his goal tally remained modest, his impact went beyond the scoresheet. He impressed with his creativity and dribbling ability, drawing comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne. However, his influence seemed to wane after the group stage, leading to him being benched in the knockout stages. Despite the later dip in form, Wirtz’s early contributions and exciting potential still made him a talking point throughout the EUROs.

Kai Havertz

• Midfielder
• Club: Arsenal

Kai Havertz’s impact on Germany at EURO 2024 has been a mixed bag. He opened the tournament with a penalty goal against Scotland, showcasing his leadership and composure. However, his overall output has been under scrutiny. While he averages a decent half-goal per game, some critics argue his role as the central striker isn’t ideal. They believe his skillset might be better utilised in a deeper attacking midfield position, allowing a more traditional target man like Niclas Füllkrug to lead the line. Despite the debate, Havertz remains a key figure for Germany, bringing experience and composure to a young squad.

Antonio Rudiger

• Defender
• Club: Real Madrid

Antonio Rudiger’s influence on Germany’s EURO 2024 campaign has been significant. His leadership and experience, especially after their 2023 Champions League win with Real Madrid, has instilled a strong mentality in the team. While his stats don’t show a tonne of flashy attacking plays, his defensive solidity and ball recovery average of 8.25 per match have been crucial in keeping Germany in clean sheets throughout the group stage and the dramatic win over Denmark. His vocal presence and determination were on full display after the match, and his confidence seems to have rubbed off on the entire squad.

Leroy Sane

• Attacking midfielder
• Club: Bayern Munich

Sane has been a key figure for Germany’s journey at EURO 2024, even if the stat sheet doesn’t necessarily scream it. While he hasn’t notched any goals himself, his impact goes beyond that. His pace and dribbling ability have stretched defences, creating space for teammates. He’s also been a reliable option coming off the bench, offering a dynamic presence in the latter stages of matches, as evidenced by his desire to emulate the impact of Spain’s young wingers in the quarter-final clash. His experience and leadership have also been crucial, praising the calming influence of Toni Kroos and highlighting Germany’s tactical strengths.

İlkay Gündoğan

• Midfielder
• Club: Manchester City

Germany’s captain, İlkay Gündoğan, has been a crucial figure in their EURO 2024 campaign. His experience and leadership have been instrumental in guiding a young and talented squad. He provides a vital link between defence and attack, dictating the tempo in midfield and unlocking defences with his passing. More importantly, his calming presence and tactical awareness have helped Germany stay composed in pressure situations, a key factor in their success so far.

Spain

Lamine Yamal

• Forward
• Club: Barcelona FC

Sixteen-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal has injected a spark into Spain’s EURO 2024 campaign. This record-breaking youngest player to ever feature in the EUROs has surprised everyone with his attacking prowess. Yamal has already notched multiple assists, becoming the first teenager to do so since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004. His pace and dribbling ability have caused havoc for opposing defences, and his link-up play with fellow winger Nico Williams has been a key factor in Spain’s success so far.

Nico Williams

• Forward
• Club: Athletic Bilbao

Nico Williams has been a revelation for Spain at EURO 2024. He’s built on a strong club season with Athletic Bilbao, where he helped them win the Copa del Rey. At the EUROs, his pace and trickery down the right wing have caused opposing defences problems. He was named Player of the Match against Italy and has consistently put in energetic performances, even leading the team in runs behind the defence. His impact goes beyond individual stats, though, as he’s formed a dynamic partnership with young winger Lamine Yamal, bringing a new attacking threat to the Spanish side.

Rodri

• Midfielder
• Club: Manchester City

Rodri has been a vital cog in Spain’s engine at the 2024 EUROs. His near-flawless passing (over 93% accuracy) has kept possession ticking over for Spain, while his ability to find space and break lines with his distribution was crucial in their win over Italy. Statistics like his high average possession time and passes into the attacking third highlight his role in dictating the tempo and feeding the Spanish attack. Rodri’s experience and composure in midfield have been instrumental in Spain’s control of the competition so far.

Ferran Torres

• Forward
• Club: Manchester City

Ferran Torres’ impact on Spain at EURO 2024 has been positive but limited. Although he hasn’t been a regular starter, he stepped up when given the chance. His well-taken goal against Albania secured a vital win and showcased his clinical finishing. This performance, along with others’, provided manager Luis de la Fuente with valuable insights into squad depth. While his playing time has been restricted, Torres has shown he can contribute when called upon.

Álvaro Morata

• Forward
• Club: Atletico Madrid

Álvaro Morata’s leadership and experience has proved crucial for Spain at EURO 2024. While his scoring rate hasn’t been as prolific as previous tournaments (averaging 0.25 goals a game), he has donned the captain’s armband and instilled a strong team spirit. He netted a vital opening goal against Croatia, placing him among the top scorers in European Championship history. His overall impact is beyond goals, providing a focal point in attack and guiding a young Spanish squad throughout the competition.

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