Julian Nagelsmann defined his preparations for Germany’s quarter-final conflict with Spain revolved round Jamal Musiala, not Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, who grew to become solely the third teenager to offer a number of assists on the European Championships after Enzo Scifo (1984) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2004), has been a shining mild for La Roja on the event.
The 16-year-old has additionally accomplished 94% of his passes underneath strain, the best charge of any Spain participant to play at the least 180 minutes thus far at Euro 2024.
Nonetheless, Musiala has additionally shone in his second main worldwide event and is at the moment the joint-top scorer heading into the quarter-final stage.
“My focus is much less on Yamal and extra on Jamal. Attacking-wise we are able to do lots of issues ourselves,” Nagelsmann stated.
“He (Yamal) is an enormous expertise. He’s been very constant this 12 months and there will not be many who’re so constant, additionally for his membership Barcelona.
“He’s simply 16, which additionally means our gamers have an opportunity to carry their very own towards him. We’ll see how he reacts when issues get robust.”
21 – Most probabilities created by gamers aged 21 or underneath in knockout stage video games on the UEFA European Championship (since 1980):
6 – Lamine Yamal v Georgia (2024)6 – Cesc Fàbregas v Russia (2008)5 – Pedri v Switzerland (2021)
Amigos. pic.twitter.com/1fpyJuKknS
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 30, 2024
Luis de la Fuente’s new-look Spain have been one of many standout groups on the event thus far, scoring 9 targets of their 4 video games thus far and conceding simply as soon as.
La Roja have moved away from their possession model of soccer, one thing which Nagelsmann believes might be key in the course of the contest in Stuttgart.
“Now we have a defensive orientation with completely different variations however we now have the demand to have the ball ourselves. It’s extra comfy to play when you’ve got possession,” Nagelsmann stated.
“Spain press excessive to pressure fast transitions, additionally win the ball excessive up the pitch. That may be a high quality they’ve acquired and it not is simply tiki-taka.”
The load of expectation falling on Nagelsmann’s shoulders is immense, with Germany hopeful of constant the development of host nations on the European Championships.
The event hosts of the Euros have by no means been eradicated from the quarter-final stage of the competitors, however Germany face a Spain aspect they’ve did not beat of their final 4 conferences.
That winless streak features a 6-0 defeat within the Nations League in 2020, however Nagelsmann is eager to look to the long run, somewhat than the current.
“I used to be not a part of these video games. I’ll by no means say within the altering room that is revenge for a recreation within the Nations League,” Nagelsmann stated.
“I wasn’t there, and neither have been a number of the gamers. It’s irrelevant for tomorrow.”
Ab nach Stuttgart! #dfbteam #euro2024DFB/Philipp Reinhard pic.twitter.com/MYouO0AdS6
— DFB-Staff (@DFB_Team) July 4, 2024
