Euro 2024: Lehmann backs Germany against ‘baby team’ in Spain

Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said he was confident the Euro 2024 hosts would have a good chance against “inexperienced” Spain in Friday’s quarter-final, sparking an angry reaction in the Spanish media.

The match between Spain and Germany is scheduled to take place in the German city of Stuttgart, as it is considered a confrontation between the two best teams in the tournament so far.

But Lehmann, who won 61 caps for Germany including their defeat to Spain in the Euro 2008 final and now works as a pundit for German television, highlighted what he said were weaknesses in the Spanish team.

“We saw the good results Spain had, without a doubt, in the group stage. Technically, they are probably better than us. But they are small in height and they are inexperienced,” he told Welt TV.

“They are a young team. They have very young players. They don’t have a lot of international experience.”

The comments were not well received in Spain. “Lehmann, the historic German goalkeeper, is another one who doesn’t take us seriously,” read the front page of Marca, the country’s leading sports daily, on Wednesday.

Spain were the only team to collect maximum points in the group stage, winning all three of their matches against Croatia, Italy and Albania in Group B, without conceding a single goal.

Barcelona’s 16-year-old Lamine Yamal has been shining up front so far, alongside Athletic Bilbao’s 21-year-old Nico Williams.

Hosts Germany topped Group A, having opened the tournament with a 5-1 win over Scotland, then beaten Hungary 2-0 and drawn 1-1 with Switzerland.

“It’s another opinion and it’s respectful but we don’t share it,” Spain striker Mikel Oyarzabal said on Tuesday when asked about Lehmann’s comments. “We know we are a group that makes up a great team. People will have their reasons to express their opinion but that doesn’t affect us.”