HERZOGENAURACH, Germany (Reuters) – Spain winger Lamine Yamal may just be 16 years old, playing at his first major tournament, but call him a kid at your own peril, Germany fullback David Raum said on Monday ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final clash.
Germany, three-time European champions who have gone 10 years without a major international trophy, beat Denmark 2-0 to set up a mouth-watering last eight match against fellow title contenders Spain, where Yamal has quickly earned a starting spot.
The teenager’s skills, creative play and speed down the wing have been impressive along with those of fellow winger Nico Williams, with the Spaniards beating Georgia 4-1 to cruise into the quarter-finals.
Yamal also set a record in the first group game against Croatia, becoming the youngest player to ever appear at the European Championship
“When you see what Yamal brings to football, age becomes no issue,” Raum said. “The lad plays in first team at Barcelona and also in the national team so there is no point talking about him as a kid.”
“He has brutal quality and we will have to find a way to defend against him.”
It will not only be Yamal but also 21-year-old Williams that Raum and his team mates will need to stop on Friday.
“I think they are two top players, but not just those two. The whole Spanish team is very well equipped. They are never really predictable and one has to find a way to stop the whole Spanish team,” Raum said.
While Germany notched up their first knockout victory at a major tournament in eight years with their win over Denmark, they have not beaten Spain in a tournament game in 36 years.
The Germans lost the Euro 2008 final to Spain and were also beaten in their 2010 World Cup semi-final. Spain crushed them 6-0 in the Nations League in 2020 and Germany managed only a 1-1 in the 2022 World Cup. Germany’s last tournament win over the Spaniards dates back to the Euro in 1988.
“It is a compliment if our match is described as a potential tournament final given our own recent tournament performances,” Raum said.
“But we view every match as a final and that is the right way. If we want to win the title we have to beat everyone, including Spain.”
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Alison Williams)
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