“Spain is basically like a youth team” - Ex-Germany star labels Euro 2024 quarter-final opponents as ‘inexperienced’ and small
Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehman has shared a rather controversial take on the team's upcoming Euro 2024 quarter-final opponents Spain. The two teams lock horns in a blockbuster clash on Friday (July 5) in Stuttgart.
Spain and Germany have been two of the standout teams at Euro 2024. While La Roja topped a group containing defending champions Italy and 2018 FIFA World Cup finalists Croatia with nine points, Germany won their group as well, finishing ahead of Switzerland, Hungary and Scotland.
Both teams had comfortable outings in the Round of 16, with Germany seeing off Denmark 2-0, while La Roja fought back from a goal down to beat Georgia 4-1 to set up a rematch of the Euro 2008 final, which Spain won by a solitary goal.
Ahead of the blockbuster clash, Lehman - who conceded Fernando Torres' 33rd-minute winner in the aforementioned 2008 final - said that Spain lack experience and size. Alluding to the presence of the 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and the 21-year-old Nico Williams, he said on Welt TV (via Marca):
"Spain is a small and inexperienced team, basically like a youth team."
The controversial take has attracted cricticism, though, with Bild journalist Nicolas Linner responding:
"I think Lehman has gone a bit over the top; to say that Spain is a team of youth players is to say that you haven't seen the Euro Cup."
Linner added:
"I think Germany is the slight favourite for Friday; Spain's defence doesn't give me much confidence."
It's pertinent to note that with an average age of 28.6 years, Germany have the oldest squad at Euro 2024.
Contrary to Lehman's claims about Spain, La Roja are far from being the most youthful side at Euro 2024. In fact, they come in 11th, with an average age of 27 years, with the Czech Republic (25.5 years) topping the list.
Euro 2024: Germany vs Spain - A few tidbits
Germany and Spain have a storied rivalry, meeting 26 times - including friendlies - with Die Mannschaft enjoying a narrow 9-8 lead. In their last five meetings, both teams have won once apiece.
Their last meeting - in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar - was a 1-1 stalemate. Alvaro Morata's 63rd-minute strike put La Roja on course for victory, but Niclas Fullkrug's 83rd-minute equaliser forced a share of the spoils.
The two behemoths' last meeting in the European Championships was in the aforementioned Euro 2008 final, where Fernando Torres' first-half strike sunk the Germans.