STUTTGART, Germany: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his side may need to get creative to stop Germany’s “brutal” Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter final in Stuttgart.
“We thought about tying Kroos feet together, but I’m not sure if UEFA will let me,” the 63-year-old coach joked in Stuttgart on Thursday.
“We know how Kroos behaves. We will try and make sure he doesn’t have the chance to receive the ball and will limit his passing options.
“We’ll appeal to UEFA to see if we can tie him down.”
Spain head into Friday’s clash as the only side at Euro 2024 who have won every game, with four wins from four.
Hosts Germany are however not far behind, having won three and drawn one on their way to the quarter final.
De la Fuente called Kroos “a world-class player, a footballer playing at a brutal level.
“He brought talent, charisma and quality into the dressing room. The confidence he transmits to the other players is contagious and has been very good for Germany.
“It’s a pity he’s leaving football because I love to watch him play.”
Germany and Spain are the equal most successful sides in Euros history, with both having won three Euros titles.
The Spanish coach however said the winner on Friday would not become the favorite to win the final in Berlin on July 14.
“No, there are other powerful teams. Nothing is free here — the closer you get to the final, the best will remain.
“We don’t see ourselves as favorites, we see ourselves as a strong team who want to fight for everything and fight until the end.”
Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan said a passionate home crowd in Stuttgart “could be the difference” between the two form sides at the competition, but de la Fuente said it could work to Spain’s advantage.
“At this level, home-field advantage doesn’t have much influence. My players are professionals and will not be intimidated by the hostile environment.
“Sometimes, that factor goes against the home team.”
Spain captain Dani Carvajal, who has played alongside Kroos at Real for a decade, said he “hadn’t spoken to him — I’ll wait until tomorrow.
“As the manager said, I hope we can tie him down. It’ll be a very special match for him.”
‘Tie his shoes together’: Spain wary of ‘brutal’ Kroos
https://arab.news/9x4w6
‘Tie his shoes together’: Spain wary of ‘brutal’ Kroos
- “We thought about tying Kroos feet together, but I’m not sure if UEFA will let me,” the 63-year-old coach joked in Stuttgart on Thursday
- “We will try and make sure he doesn’t have the chance to receive the ball and will limit his passing options”
Real Madrid edge Valencia to stay on Barca’s tail, Atletico slump
- After Spanish champions Barca had beaten Mallorca on Saturday, Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid eked out a tight victory at Mestalla to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals
BARCELONA: Kylian Mbappe scored his 23rd goal of the season in La Liga to help Real Madrid claim a battling 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday and close the gap to leaders Barcelona to one point.
Third-place Atletico Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Real Betis, three days after thrashing the Andalusian side in the Copa del Rey, falling further away from the top two.
After Spanish champions Barca had beaten Mallorca on Saturday, Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid eked out a tight victory at Mestalla to keep the pressure on their arch-rivals.
Missing suspended forward Vinicius Junior and injured midfielder Jude Bellingham, Los Blancos lacked sparkle but did enough to claim three points on Spain’s east coast.
Alvaro Carreras put the visitors ahead midway through the second half and Mbappe struck late on to seal their win.
“It was going to be a game where we had to have a lot of patience. I think it was a win that came because of how solid we were, and our focussed performance,” said Arbeloa.
“I think that we were fair winners.”
England international Trent Alexander-Arnold made his return after injury as a substitute in the second half of Madrid’s victory.
Arda Guler and Mbappe had chances in the first half, while Madrid right-back David Jimenez, from the club’s youth academy, came closest to scoring but was denied by goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Midway through the second half, Carreras conjured a goal out of nothing to give Madrid the lead.
Coming in from the left, the defender used his weaker right foot to stroke the ball inside Dimitrievski’s near post.
Valencia might have levelled but Lucas Beltran’s effort on the stretch clipped the post.
Madrid eventually secured the three points in stoppage time as Brahim Diaz teed up La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe to finish from close range.
“Right now he’s the best player in the world, for what he’s showing day after day and game after game,” said Arbeloa, who reiterated that Mbappe could live up to his boyhood idol Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy at Real Madrid.
“As I’ve said before, it seemed like Cristiano was something alien, impossible to equal, and that nobody would get close, but Kylian is on a good path... it’s not easy, obviously, but if anyone can, it’s Kylian.”
Valencia’s fans, some of whom had waved white handkerchieves during the match in protest at the club’s situation, headed for the exits with Los Che 17th, one point above the drop zone.
“It’s normal that (the fans) are nervous, I would be too,” admitted Valencia captain Jose Gaya to DAZN.
Revenge mission
Antony’s first-half strike helped Betis win at Atletico, earning his side revenge for their cup mauling, and leaving Atletico 13 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Betis, fifth, continued their push toward the top four, now trailing fourth-placed Villarreal by four points, although they have played two more matches than the Yellow Submarine.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico waltzed into the Copa del Rey semifinals with a hefty 5-0 win at Betis on Thursday, but this was a far closer affair at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium.
“It’s a tough defeat to take after the great game we had in the cup. We weren’t as good as the other day,” admitted Atletico captain Koke to Movistar.
“They set up a lot tighter at the back... We had very few chances and they played a great game.”
Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini made five changes to the team which crumbled at home and his side were determined to prove a point in the Spanish capital.
“I’m very happy for the goal and even more so for the victory — it’s been a very difficult week,” said Antony, who curled home after 28 minutes, beating Jan Oblak at his near post.
“We had to change, there was no other option... we’re sorry (to the fans) for the game in the cup.”
Atletico had the ball in Betis’s net with 15 minutes to go when Diego Llorente headed Giuliano Simeone’s cross into his own net, but Antoine Griezmann was judged to be fractionally offside and interfering with play.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao beat Levante 4-2, Sevilla and Girona shared a 1-1 draw, and Getafe won 2-0 at Alaves.
