Host nation Germany face Spain in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter final in Stuttgart riding a wave of belief not seen in the proud football nation for almost a decade. After a series of poor performances at major tournaments, the most decorated nation in European football history are again confident of a deep run. Germany veteran and 2014 World Cup winner Toni Kroos said Wednesday “the goal is to win the tournament”. “We want to go a lot further and in the dressing room we are very convinced we will achieve that.”

The bold stance is a far cry from nine months ago, when Hansi Flick became the first coach sacked in Germany history after a 4-1 demolition by Japan in Wolfsburg. 

His replacement Julian Nagelsmann only won one of his first four games in charge, but in March laid the groundwork for a successful Euro run. 

Nagelsmann made 11 changes to the squad, bringing in players from eventual Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and surprise runners-up Stuttgart, while axing several big names.  

But Nagelsmann’s most crucial step was bringing back Kroos, who had stepped down from international football in 2021. 

The midfielder has excelled in what will be his final tournament before retiring from football completely. 

‘Won games we would have lost’

The clash between the tournament’s two most impressive teams — and the only sides to have won three Euros titles — would be a marquee matchup for the final in Berlin. 

But with other pre-tournament favourites like France, England and Portugal stuttering, whoever emerges victorious on Friday will be favoured to go all the way to the German capital. 

With four wins in four, Spain are the only side to have tasted victory each of their matches at Euro 2024 and have scored nine goals while conceding just once. 

Germany have won three and drawn one but have faced challenges along the way. 

A player with an unblemished record of success, six-time Champions League winner Kroos believes the will to win comes “only through experience”.

“You can have a winning mentality or belief, you can live it, but it’s hard to convey it in conversations. 

“You have to go through experiences and that’s how your belief grows more and more.”

Kroos pointed to the “difficult situations” which have honed Germany’s tenacity. 

“Against Hungary we had difficult moments, against Switzerland we were behind. Versus Denmark things did not go so smoothly,” Kroos said, explaining “something like that helps you get through tough phases, stay calm and believe in yourself”.

“We now have a different belief. We are now winning games or at least not losing games that we were clearly losing in the past.”

‘Eventually, they all understand’

Kroos will do battle against Spain, the country he has lived in for the past decade.

He said his knowledge of the Spanish players from his time at Real was no clear advantage, saying “they’re all pretty well known. 

“I don’t think we’re expecting any big surprises.”

The 34-year-old felt underappreciated in Germany, which motivated his decision to leave Bayern Munich for the Spanish capital in 2014. 

Bayern powerbroker Uli Hoeness was particularly critical of Kroos, calling him “sideways pass Toni” and saying in 2021 “Toni Kroos has no place in modern football anymore”.

Hoeness, the man who built Bayern into a global powerhouse, clearly understands football, which made the criticism even more bizarre. 

Asked on Wednesday if the Spanish were quicker to see his value faster than the Germans, the midfielder said cooly “I’ll say it like this, some of them understand quickly, and some others need a bit more time.”

“But eventually, they all understand.”

Germany’s hopes of winning Euro 2024 on home soil rest with inflicting a very rare defeat on Spain’s midfield maestro Rodri in Friday’s blockbuster quarter-final. Since La Roja last lost a competitive game to Scotland in March 2023, Rodri has played 77 matches for club and country and tasted defeat just once when Manchester United beat his Manchester City in May’s FA Cup final. In that time the 28-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, one FA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, as well as guiding his country to Nations League glory.

“In his position, he is the best – he can do everything. The quality, he reads the game, his mentality, he is always ready,” said City boss Pep Guardiola, who has overseen a collection of some of the best midfielders ever to grace the sport.

“He is so good at many things…The presence, the physicality, he is complete.”

Spain have dazzled so far at Euro 2024 – the only side to have won all four of their matches en route to the quarter-finals.

Wonder kid wingers Yamine Lamal and Nico Williams have given Luis de la Fuente’s side a direct threat that even the great Spain team that won three consecutive major tournaments between 2008 and 2012 lacked.

Fabian Ruiz, Pedri and Dani Olmo provide extra guile from midfield and even the much-maligned Alvaro Morata has moved into a share of third place for the most goals in European Championship history.

However, Rodri’s all-round importance as the anchor to this Spanish side was evidenced in the last 16 against Georgia.

Trailing to Robin Le Normand’s own goal despite not having faced a shot on target, Spain were beginning to be flustered by not taking advantage of their dominance of the ball and chances.

Just after the half hour mark, Rodri took possession, paused and issued an instruction of calm to his teammates.

Moments later he arrowed a low shot into the far corner for the equaliser that served as the launch pad for a 4-1 win.

“Sometimes 20 or 30 seconds of saying to people ‘calm down’ is more productive than going on the attack,” Rodri said of his message of reassurance to the team.

‘Not afraid’

Morata may wear the captain’s armband, but Rodri has developed into the leader of Spain’s new generation, keen to break free from the shadow of their all-conquering predecessors.

“We have Rodri, who is a perfect computer,” said De la Fuente. 

“He administers everything, all the emotions, all the moments in a magisterial way; that’s a great help for everyone.”

Despite being one of the world’s leading lights in his position for a number of seasons, this is his first major tournament as Spain’s starting six.

At the 2022 World Cup he was used as a centre-back by Luis Enrique to accomodate an ageing Sergio Busquets.

The Barcelona legend’s international retirement cut the final chord to Spain’s last major tournament win in 2012.

Now Rodri’s generation want to write their own story to become national heroes.

“Germany will be strong at home, but they will be worried about us too,” said the former Atletico Madrid man of the clash in Stuttgart.

“We came to win and we are not afraid. Our mentality is to go on Friday with everything we have against Germany.”

Should Spain get their way, another midfield great will play his final match.

Toni Kroos will retire after the tournament and the man who spent the last decade of his club career in Spain with Real Madrid, showed his respect for his opposite number in the quarter-finals.

“I think he is someone who exudes enthusiasm, who is not prone to making mistakes, even under pressure, which always gives a lot to the team,” said Kroos.

“On top of that, in the last one or two years, he has also scored goals, important goals.”

Rodri’s strike won City their first ever Champions League in the 2023 final.

Now he is aiming to make his major tournament breakthrough and break German hearts along the way.