Germany’s coach Hans-Dieter Flick attends a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Centre, yesterday. AFP
Doha: Luis Enrique has warned former champions Spain against overconfidence ahead of their marquee Group E clash against four-time winners Germany at the Al Bayt Stadium, tonight.
Spain started their World Cup with a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica but in a contrasting opening game Hansi Flick’s side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan.
Enrique said he tried to manage the big win over Costa Rica “with all normality” to stay focused on the matches ahead.
“Yes, it was a resounding victory but we should not be overconfident,” Spain coach told reporters at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We are playing against Germany and we should be focused, otherwise they will hammer us,” he added.
Enrique said Spain are up for a “beautiful challenge” against the four-time winners in a game that can help them qualify for the Round of 16.
“Germany are team that always play on attack. They always try to keep the possession and try to play in opponents half which will be challenge for us. They’re the team that plays most like Spain in the sense they want to control and dominate the game,” he said before adding Spain too have gone to higher level.
“They’ve won the World Cup four times. I had the chance to play against them at World Cup in 1994, there was a big physical difference in that era. I think that Spain are at that level now, in fact in the FIFA rankings we’re above them but if anyone knows how to fight, it’s Germany,” he said.
Spain’s Gavi trains with teammates at the Qatar University Training Site 1, yesterday. REUTERS
Spain winger Dani Olmo, who scored La Roja’s first goal against Costa Rica, echoed his coach’s views.
“They have some absences but you can never rule the Germans out,” he said.
“They need to win and they have the players and quality to turn it around, we’re focused on ourselves and if we win we’ll be in the last 16,” he said.
Germany face a possible early elimination for the second consecutive time at the World Cup, with coach Flick saying they will play the match as final.
“I am very optimistic I am looking forward to the match and we have the quality to win the match,” the German coach told reporters yesterday.
Seeking their first major trophy since their World Cup triumph in 2014, the Germans, although, didn’t start as hot favourites they begun their campaign as one of the title contenders.
When asked whether Germany are still the mighty World Cup team, Flick said: “I think tomorrow’s [today's] match will show what we are capable of. I can answer that after the match [against Spain],” he said.
Germany’s first round exit in Russia four years ago was their earliest elimination in their World Cup history and they were also knocked out of delayed Euro 2020 in the last 16 last year.
“We want to avoid a repeat of this. The focus is on concentration. This is the first final for us at the World Cup and that’s what it’s about - to avoid a repeat of that,” he said.
The Germany coach hoped to avoid mistakes his team committed against Japan.
“If we are not on 100% then we give the opponent space. We did it against Japan. Such a defeat and how it came about is very bitter because it was avoidable.”
Flick, who was not accompanying any player in the pre-match press conference, said he wanted players to focus on the game.
Spain and Germany have a legendary rivalry with a total of 25 games played between the European giants. Germany are slightly ahead winning nine games as compared to Spain’s eight victories with as many matches ending in draws.
Out of their four previous World Cup games, Germany have won two to Spain’s one, though the latter’s victory came in the most recent encounter, the 2010 semi-final. Spain hammered Germany 6-0 when the two sides last met at 2020 UEFA Nations League match.
When: Today at 10:00pm
Where: Al Bayt Stadium (Capacity: 60,000)
Key stats:
* Spain were World Cup winners in 2010 - their one success to date - while Germany have won the trophy four times, most recently in 2014
in Brazil.
* Spain thrashed Germany 6-0 in their last meeting in November 2020 in the UEFA Nations League.
* Spain will qualify for the knockout stage with a win. Defeat for Germany would mean elimination if Japan take at least a point from their match against Costa Rica.
* Germany failed to clear the group stage at the last World Cup in Russia in 2018 when they lost matches to Mexico and South Korea. It was their earliest exit in the competition in decades.
Previous meetings:
The two sides have met 25 times previously, with Germany winning on nine occasions, Spain on eight and eight draws.
