By Humberto Viera
03 Jul 2024, 18:25 PM EDT
Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gündogan has praised Spain and Germany, saying both teams are playing their best football at the European Championships. Speaking to UEFA, Gundogan said Friday’s quarter-final will be “a match between equals.”
“It will definitely be a match between equals. I think both teams are playing probably the best football in the tournament at the moment. We both want to have a lot of possession and we are defined by a lot of possession,” Gündogan said in an interview.
On the key to winning the match, Gundogan said that staying calm and patient will be crucial. “The key will be to see who can best handle not having possession in the right moments and who doesn’t give in to fear, stays calm and waits patiently for the moment when they get the ball back,” he added.
The German player also had words of praise for his teammates, Lamine Yamal and Rodri. “What makes Lamine so special is that he plays fantastic football at a very high level at 16 years old,” he said of Yamal. “He still has a long way to go, but to do so many things well already at 16 years old is extraordinary.”
On Rodri, Gundogan said he is among the best defensive midfielders in the world. “He is among the two or three best defensive midfielders in the world, maybe even the best,” he said. “You can always pass the ball to him, he always asks for it, he almost always makes the right decision, and he almost never loses the ball. He is a player that every coach and every team would want to have in their team.”
Finally, Gundogan sent a message to Spain about Germany’s level. “There is no reason for us not to be confident. We have a very good team, we are well established, we have clear ideas and concepts that we have already applied on the pitch and that are working very well so far,” he concluded.
The match between Spain and Germany is shaping up to be one of the most exciting of the Euros. Both teams are in great form and have world-class players. It will undoubtedly be a thrilling and spectacle-filled encounter.
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