European Championship quarter-final Spain – Germany: Spain is much more than Tiki-Taka

Before the big game, such as the European Championship quarter-final against Germany on Friday, starting at 6 p.m., the first small point victories are being celebrated in Spain. The press reports that the Spaniards formally have “home advantage” and were therefore allowed to reserve the hotel in Stuttgart that their opponents actually wanted to use. The Spaniards also have first access to the jerseys, meaning they can play in red and blue, while the Germans can wear all white. Just like four years ago in Seville.

Back then, the Spanish defeated the Germans 6-0 in the Nations League – only once, 110 years earlier, had the four-time world champions lost an international match by a greater margin. “We dominated them in all facets of the game: tactically, physically, mentally,” said Spain’s midfield strategist Rodri, who had put in a brilliant performance in his position in front of the defence. Today, just like on that November day, he will face Toni Kroos and Ilkay Gündogan in the control centre.

It would be an exaggeration to say that Spain is expected to see a similar dominance in the European Championship quarter-finals as in Seville. But the “Germany complex” that a 73-year-old like former national coach Vicente del Bosque remembers from his playing days has long since evaporated. Spain has been unbeaten against Germany in tournament finals since 1988, and del Bosque has recently been quoted as making statements that are as confident of victory as those he always avoided during his own time on the bench.

Spain’s performances silence background noise

“Spain plays faster – and with a higher rhythm than Germany. I am absolutely convinced that we will advance,” said Spain’s 2010 World Cup coach to the German “Sportbild”. In the domestic Cadena Ser, del Bosque added: “I find it difficult to name two foreign players who could play in the Spanish team.” This applies not only to the current opponent, but in general. “The German Jamal Musiala, the Englishman Bukayo Saka . . . There aren’t many.”

The cheeky tones are certainly officious in nature: Vicente del Bosque is currently leading a commission set up by the Spanish government to monitor the corruption-plagued association and in particular its president, Pedro Rocha. Two weeks ago, Spain’s Sports Court (TAD) requested a six-year ban on Rocha from holding office and gave him until this Friday to defend himself. However, Rocha was granted a reprieve and will therefore be able to sit next to King Felipe in a possible European Championship final, as he did in the group match against Italy. Supported by FIFA and UEFA, the 70-year-old is clinging to office.

Not that this is of much interest at home at the moment. Whereas before the tournament there was still potential for conflict, the Selección’s sometimes magnificent European Championship performances have eliminated all background noise. And where national coach Luis de la Fuente was met with a lot of skepticism before the tournament when he claimed that he didn’t see a better team than Spain, the media are now enthusiastically taking the same line. “Germany is trembling,” the two major sports newspapers “As” and “Marca” postulated in identical terms at the start of the week when the quarter-final duel was decided.

For the first time in 111 international matches, less possession than the opponent

The arrogance has substance, who would deny it? Luis de la Fuente has given the team an offensive fury, the likes of which were last seen during the 2008 European Championship title under Luis Aragonés. The Spain of that European Championship showed Tiki-Taka – the classic short passing game – in its most daring version; less safety-oriented than under del Bosque, for example, who operated with a double six in midfield, which was atypical for the country, and hypnotized the opponents with long periods of possession. In 2024, on the other hand, there are even games and moments when Spain seems to have virtually abolished Tiki-Taka.

In the opening match against Croatia, the Iberians were successful with quick counterattacks, and for the first time in 111 international matches they had less possession than their opponents – who, interestingly enough, were Germany at the time, in November 2014. Kroos scored the only goal for the newly crowned world champions in Vigo in 2014, which culminated in their successful adaptation of the admired Spanish style of play that evening. Today, particularly between Kroos and Rodri, we can expect another fascinating duel for possession and thus control of the game. But unlike in the past decade of failures, Spain knows that it now has a plan B.

This was already the Selección’s greatest desire under de la Fuente’s predecessors. Two factors in particular made Plan B possible: firstly, the emergence of diabolical wingers, the likes of which Spain had never had before. Nico Williams, 21, and Lamine Yamal, 16, bring speed, speed and dribbling skills; it has become impossible for the opponents to concentrate only on the middle, as they used to do against Spain.

Spain plays against history in Stuttgart

In addition, Rodri is in outstanding form. He does things in the centre by himself where other teams need two players. With his passing accuracy and his vision, he represents the best of the old Spain – and with his physicality and goal threat, the best of the new.

In retrospect, it is incomprehensible that the 28-year-old from Manchester City had to move to central defence at the 2022 World Cup in favour of long-time strategist Sergio Busquets. In reality, Rodri is the perfect upgrade to the awkward and goal-shy Busquets.

In the usual debates by former greats, which are what make a great game, the former German national goalkeeper Jens Lehmann declared the Spanish team to be “too small” and “very inexperienced, actually a youth team”. Lamine, who is indeed very young at 16 but has grown by ten centimetres in the last year, replied: “We don’t listen to anyone, neither from our side nor from theirs. We will see on the pitch whether we really are small and innocent.” Not only Germany, but also Spain are playing against history in Stuttgart: in nine attempts at international finals, they have never beaten a host team.