Julius OkorieThe race for the last four of the ongoing Euro 2024 Championship begins tomorrow 5th July 2024 with three-time winners, Spain, facing fellow three-time winners Germany in what has been dubbed final before the final.
The two European juggernauts are seeking to win an unprecedented fourth European Championship title. The battle of MHPArena in Stuttgart on Friday evening will certainly be full of fireworks.
The victors of this eagerly-anticipated contest will face the winners of the last-eight tie between Portugal and France in the semi-finals.
After winning all three group games at a European Championship for the first time since 2008, Spain remains the only nation at Euro 2024, who boast a perfect record from four matches after coming from behind to beat Georgia 4-1 in the last 16 on Sunday.
Spain were stunned in the 18th minute when Robin Le Normand inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net to put Georgia ahead – the first goal that La Roja have conceded at Euro 2024. But own goal did not dampen Spain but rather served as a ginger as La Roja restored parity through Rodri and then went goal-crazy afterwards.
READ ALSO Euro 2024: Ruthless Spain Sets Up Quarterfinal Clash With Germany
Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo were all on the scoresheet to complete the turnaround in prolific fashion and extend Spain’s unbeaten run at the European Championship to 10 matches (excluding penalty shootouts).
Luis de la Fuente’s youthful and energetic side have dazzled their way into the quarter-finals, reaching this stage for the fourth time in their last five Euros appearances, and even Germany’s Joshua Kimmich has admitted that “Spain have been the most impressive side so far” at this summer’s tournament.
Ranked eighth in the world by FIFA, Spain head into Friday’s blockbuster battle having not lost any of their last six competitive meetings (W3 D3) with Germany dating back to 1998, most recently playing out a 1-1 group-stage draw at the 2022 World Cup.
However, Spain have remarkably never beaten the host nation in the knockout rounds of a Euros or World Cup, failing to win any of their last nine such matches dating all the way back to 1934.
While a lot appear to be going on for Spain they must be weary of Germany who will not only be enjoying massive home support but also boast of players who can do the damage.
Nigeria born Jamal Musiala the latter is now one of four players at the top of the Euro 2024 scoring charts with three goals.
Germany rank in the top three for the most goals scored (10), most attacks (265), most attempts on goal (71), highest average possession (62%) and goals conceded (two) heading into the last eight of Euro 2024, and with a vibrant home crowd behind them, Die Mannschaft have become a force to be reckoned with.
Germany have reason to be optimistic of success on Friday, though, as they are unbeaten in their last eight games against La Roja on home soil (W5 D3), while no host nation has ever been eliminated from the quarter-final stage of a European Championship.
This certainly will be war and whoever wins this battle will have either Portugal or France to contend with, and neither opponents will be easy.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
