Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann stated on Thursday that he is not overly concerned about Spain's 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and is instead concentrating on his own player, Jamal Musiala, as they prepare for the Euro 2024 quarterfinal on Friday. Yamal, the youngest player ever to participate in a Euros, has been a standout with his speed and creative wing play, contributing to Spain's four straight wins. Nagelsmann acknowledged the need to counter Yamal's skills but emphasized his greater focus on Musiala, the tournament's joint-top scorer with three goals.
Nagelsmann praised Yamal as a significant talent, noting his consistency with Barcelona at just 16 years old. He believes this gives his players a chance to compete effectively against him. Regarding Spain's shift away from their traditional 'tiki-taka' style, Nagelsmann stressed the importance of his team maintaining possession to control the game. He described their defensive approach with various strategies but highlighted the comfort of playing with the ball.
Spain's high pressing to force quick transitions and win the ball high up the pitch is now part of their game, moving beyond just 'tiki-taka'. Nagelsmann remained tight-lipped about his plans for the left wing, with options including Leroy Sane and Florian Wirtz. Sane started for the first time in the tournament during their 2-0 victory over Denmark in the last 16.
Nagelsmann declined to reveal his starting lineup choice, stating they still had discussions to finalize their strategy. He dismissed the idea of revenge for past losses to Spain, including a 6-0 defeat in the 2020 Nations League, as irrelevant to the upcoming match. Nagelsmann, who took over late last year, emphasized that his focus is solely on the present and the future.
