Julian Nagelsmann has tailored his tactics for Germany’s Euro 2024 clash against Spain with an emphasis on Jamal Musiala, sidelining Lamine Yamal’s notable contributions.
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Yamal, at just 16, has dazzled, becoming only the third teenager to deliver multiple assists at a European Championship, achieving feats reminiscent of legends like Enzo Scifo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
This young prodigy has notched an impressive 94% completion rate for passes under duress — the highest for any Spanish player clocking more than 180 minutes in the tournament.
Musiala, however, has matched the limelight, leading as joint-top scorer and showcasing his mettle in his second key international tournament.
“I’m channeling less energy towards Yamal and more towards Jamal. We have our own attacking arsenal,” Nagelsell declared.
“Yamal has shown remarkable consistency, not just here but also with Barcelona. Despite his youth, we believe we match up well against him. It will be interesting to observe his resilience under pressure,” he added.
Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s revamped squad has captivated audiences, netting nine goals and conceding just once across four matches.
Spain’s departure from their signature possession play intrigues Nagelsmann, especially ahead of their showdown in Stuttgart.
“Our strategy emphasizes versatile defensive setups while maintaining possession. Possessing the ball naturally eases play,” Nagelsmann stated.
“Spain’s aggressive pressing and quick ball recovery mark a shift from their traditional approach. They’re not just about tiki-taka anymore,” he noted.
As host, Germany bears the hopes of a nation, with a historical trend of host countries succeeding past the quarter-finals. Nevertheless, Spain poses a formidable challenge, having bested Germany in their last four encounters.
This includes a stark 6-0 thrashing in the Nations League in 2020. However, Nagelsmann remains future-focused.
“Those past matches aren’t my baggage. I will not frame this as a vendetta for those defeats,” Nagelsmann affirmed.
“Those games predate my time, and several players’ as well. They hold no significance for our upcoming battle,” he concluded.
