Spain vs Germany facts

The Stuttgart Arena is the venue for a heavyweight contest in the first UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final as Spain take on hosts Germany.

The pair are jointly the most successful sides in UEFA European Championship history with three titles apiece and have been regular rivals in high-profile matches over the years.

Spain came from behind to beat debutants Georgia 4-1 in Cologne in the round of 16 to reach their sixth quarter-final in the last eight tournaments. They qualified as Group B winners as the only side to record three victories, beating Croatia 3-0 and Italy and Albania both 1-0.

Germany are in the last eight for the fourth time in five EUROs, beating Denmark 2-0 in Dortmund in the round of 16 thanks to second-half goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala. Julian Nagelsmann's side had finished top of Group A, opening with wins against Scotland (5-1) and Hungary (2-0) before Niclas Füllkrug's added-time header rescued a 1-1 draw against Switzerland.

The winners of this tie play in the semi-final in Munich on 9 July.

Previous meetings

Matches 26
Spain wins 8
Germany wins 9
Draws 9
Spain goals 32
Germany goals 31

The teams last met on Matchday 2 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, sharing a 1-1 draw in Al Khor with Álvaro Morata's 62nd-minute opener for Spain cancelled out by Germany substitute Füllkrug seven minutes from time. However, it was Luis Enrique's Spain who would go on to reach the knockout rounds as Group E runners-up to Japan with a Germany side coached by Hansi Flick eliminated in third place.

Three of the sides' last four meetings have finished 1-1, the exception a remarkable UEFA Nations League game in Seville on 17 November 2020 in which Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick (33, 55, 71) as Enrique's side triumphed 6-0. Morata (17), Rodri (38) and Mikel Oyarzabal (89) also found the net for Spain, who reached the finals at the expense of a Germany team coached by Joachim Löw. That was also Germany's record competitive defeat.

Spain had needed a 96th-minute José Gayà equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw in Germany on 3 September 2020, Timo Werner giving the home side a 51st-minute lead in a game that was played at the Stuttgart Arena.

That was the sides' first competitive meeting since the 2010 World Cup semi-final, Spain's Carles Puyol heading the only goal in Durban 17 minutes from time. Vicente del Bosque was in charge of a Spain team who went on to claim their first world title, with Löw again Germany coach.

La Roja had triumphed at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion two years earlier, a 33rd-minute Fernando Torres strike enough for Luis Aragonés' Spain to beat Löw's Germany 1-0 in the final of EURO 2008.

That made it two Spain wins to Germany's one in European Championship final tournaments. Hosts West Germany defeated Spain 2-0 at Munich's Olympiastadion in the 1988 group stage through two Rudi Völler goals, while four years previously Spain secured a last-gasp 1-0 victory against the Germans at the same stage. Antonio Maceda's 90th-minute header in Paris sent the Spanish into the semi-finals at the expense of the eliminated holders.

On the World Cup stage, Germany came from behind to send Spain home from the 1966 finals, winning 2-1 in their deciding group game. The Mannschaft also ended Spain's interest in the 1982 World Cup after beating the hosts 2-1 in the second group stage. It finished 1-1 when the teams met for the third time in the World Cup in the first round at USA '94.

This is the countries' second meeting in a European Championship quarter-final, West Germany having triumphed 3-1 on aggregate in the 1976 edition. Spain struck first in the tie, Santillana giving them the lead in the first minute of the first leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderón in Madrid, but Erich Beer levelled on the hour for a West Germany team who went through thanks to first-half goals from Uli Hoeness (17) and Klaus Toppmöller (43) in the second leg at the Olympiastadion in Munich.

A 35th-minute Thomas Müller equaliser earned Germany a 1-1 draw against Spain, who had taken the lead through Rodrigo in the ninth minute, in Dusseldorf on 23 March 2018. The match marked Rodri's senior debut for Spain as a late substitute.

Toni Kroos got an 89th-minute winner as Germany won 1-0 in Vigo in a friendly on 18 November 2014. Morata played 90 minutes for Spain with Antonio Rüdiger and Müller also starting for the visitors.

EURO facts

Spain

Only Germany, with 14, have participated in more EURO finals than Spain, who have made it through qualification for the nation's 12th appearance at the tournament. They are making their eighth EURO appearance in a row and 11th in the last 12 editions, missing out only in 1992 in that sequence.

Champions in 1964, 2008 and 2012 – the only side to win successive European Championships – Spain were also runners-up in 1984.

A side coached by Enrique finished second behind Sweden in Group E at EURO 2020, winning one game and drawing the other two, before edging through knockout ties against Croatia (5-3 aet) and Switzerland (1-1 aet, 3-1 pens). Italy ended their run in another tight contest in the semi-finals, however, prevailing 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

With Luis de la Fuente having replaced Enrique as coach, Spain qualified for EURO 2024 as Group A winners, their only blemish a 2-0 loss in Scotland in their second game. La Roja won their other seven matches to finish four points above the Scots at the top of the table, booking their passage to the finals with a 1-0 win in Norway on 15 October 2023.

The round of 16 win against Georgia made it six successive victories for Spain. A 1-0 friendly loss against Colombia on 22 March is their sole defeat in their last 16 matches (W13 D2).

Spain have now qualified from the group stage eight times in 11 EURO campaigns – including each of the last five.

La Roja are unbeaten in ten EURO finals matches (W6 D4), since a 2-0 loss against Italy in the last 16 of EURO 2016.

Spain's record in EURO quarter-finals is W4 L5:
1960 w/o v Soviet Union (Spain withdrew)
1964 7-1 v Republic of Ireland (agg; 5-1 h, 2-0 a)
1968 1-3 v England (agg: 0-1 a, 1-2 h)
1976 1-3 v West Germany (agg: 1-1 h, 0-2 a)
1996 0-0 v England (ae, 2-4 pens)
2000 1-2 v France
2008 0-0 v Italy (aet, 4-2 pens)
2012 2-0 v France
2020 1-1 v Switzerland (aet; 3-1 pens)

Before beating Italy on penalties in 2008, Spain had not won a last-eight tie since 1964, losing four in a row; they have now won their last three.

The 2020 Nations League draw against Germany was Spain's third game at the Stuttgart Arena. They lost 2-1 to West Germany there in a November 1973 friendly – Jupp Heynckes scoring both goals for the home side – but were 3-1 victors against Tunisia in the 2006 World Cup group stage thanks to goals in the final 20 minutes from Raúl González and Fernando Torres (2).

Germany

No side has featured in the European Championship more often than Germany, who are making their 14th appearance in 2024. They have featured in every edition of the tournament since their debut in 1972.

Winners in 1972, 1980 – both as West Germany – and 1996, Germany were also beaten finalists in 1976, 1992 and 2008 and have reached a further three semi-finals.

EURO 2020 ended in Germany's earliest exit since bowing out in the 2004 group stage, however, Löw's side losing 2-0 to England at Wembley in the round of 16. They had finished second in Group F behind France on four points, ahead of holders Portugal and Hungary.

Germany are led by 36-year-old former Hoffenheim, Leipzig and Bayern München coach Nagelsmann, who replaced Flick on 22 September 2023.

Germany lost three of their six matches in autumn 2023 (W2 D1) but are unbeaten in their eight games in 2024, winning six including three in a row before the Matchday 3 draw with Switzerland.

Before EURO 2024 Germany had one win in six EURO finals matches (D2 L3), a 4-2 defeat of Portugal on Matchday 2 at EURO 2020. They have won three of their four games at this tournament.

Die Mannschaft have now qualified from the group stage in nine of their 12 EURO finals campaigns since 1980 – including each of the last five.

Germany have won all six of their UEFA European Championship quarter-finals:
1972 3-1 v England (agg; 3-1 a, 0-0 h)
1976 3-1 v Spain (agg; 1-1 a, 2-0 h)
1996 2-1 v Croatia
2008 3-2 v Portugal
2012 4-2 v Greece
2016 1-1 v Italy (6-5 pens)

Kroos and Joshua Kimmich both converted from the spot against Italy in Bordeaux at EURO 2016; Müller's kick was saved by Gianluigi Buffon, while Manuel Neuer kept out two Italy penalties. Marc-André ter Stegen and Leroy Sané were unused Germany substitutes.

This is the first time Germany have reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament since 2016.

Neuer made his 38th appearance in a major tournament in the round of 16 win against Denmark, equalling Bastian Schweinsteiger's national record. It was also his 19th EURO match, setting a new Germany best; Kroos is now level with previous record hold Schweinsteiger on 18.

Germany are unbeaten in their last eight games in Stuttgart, winning seven – a run that includes a 3-1 defeat of Portugal in the third-place play-off at the 2006 World Cup and the 2-0 victory against Hungary on Matchday 2 of EURO 2024.

Links and trivia

Spain coach De la Fuente was in charge of the side that beat Germany 2-1 in the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final thanks to goals from Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo. Oyarzabal also started for Spain with Mikel Merino a second-half substitute; Jonathan Tah captained the Germany side.

Have played in Spain:
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid 2014–24)
Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona 2014–)
Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid 2022–)
İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona 2023–)

Have played together:
David Raya & Kai Havertz (Arsenal 2023–)
Dani Carvajal, Nacho & Toni Kroos (Real Madrid 2014–24)
Alejandro Grimaldo & Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich, Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen 2023–)
Aymeric Laporte & Leroy Sané (Manchester City 2017–20)
Aymeric Laporte & İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City 2017–23)
Marc Cucurella & Pascal Gross (Brighton 2021/22)
Jesús Navas & İlkay Gündoğan, Leroy Sané (Manchester City 2016/17)
Dani Olmo & Benjamin Henrichs (Leipzig 2020–)
Dani Olmo & David Raum (Leipzig 2022–)
Fermin López & Marc-André ter Stegen, İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona 2023–)
Pedri & Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona 2020–24)
Pedri & İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona 2023–)
Rodri & İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City 2019–23)
Rodri & Leroy Sané (Manchester City 2019/20)
Joselu & Toni Kroos (Real Madrid 2023/24)
Ferran Torres & Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona 2022–)
Ferran Torres & İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City 2020–22; Barcelona 2023–)
Lamine Yamal & Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona 2022–)
Lamine Yamal & İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona 2023–)
Álvaro Morata & Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea 2017–19)

Rodri, Laporte and Gündoğan were all part of the Manchester City squad that won the treble of UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 2022/23. Rodri scored the only goal of the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul, Gündoğan lifting the trophy as captain in his last game for City.

Grimaldo scored in Leverkusen's 2-2 draw at Bayern München on 15 September 2023 and past Neuer in Die Werkself's 3-0 home win on 10 February.

Joselu came on to score two late goals past Neuer to give Real Madrid a thrilling 2-1 second-leg victory at home to Bayern in the Champions League semi-final second leg on 8 May. Nacho played both legs for Madrid with Dani Carvajal starting the second having been suspended for the first; Neuer, Kimmich, Musiala, Sané and Müller featured in both legs for Bayern.

Carvajal headed the opening goal of Madrid's final win against Dortmund at Wembley on 1 June; Nacho and substitute Joselu also featured for the Spanish side with Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can and Füllkrug all in the Dortmund line-up.

Penalty shoot-outs

Spain's record in their 13 competitive penalty shoot-outs is W7 L6:
5-4 v Denmark, 1984 European Championship semi-final
4-5 v Belgium, 1986 World Cup quarter-final
2-4 v England, EURO '96 quarter-final
3-2 v Republic of Ireland, 2002 World Cup round of 16
3-5 v South Korea, 2002 World Cup quarter-final
4-2 v Italy, EURO 2008 quarter-final
4-2 v Portugal, EURO 2012 semi-final
7-6 v Italy, 2013 Confederations Cup semi-final
3-4 v Russia, 2018 World Cup round of 16
3-1 v Switzerland, EURO 2020 quarter-final
2-4 v Italy, EURO 2020 semi-final
0-3 v Morocco, 2022 World Cup round of 16
5-4 v Croatia, 2023 Nations League final

Germany have won their last six competitive penalty shoot-outs, losing only their first:
3-5 v Czechoslovakia, 1976 European Championship final
5-4 v France, 1982 World Cup semi-final
4-1 v Mexico, 1986 World Cup quarter-final
4-3 v England, 1990 World Cup semi-final
6-5 v England, EURO '96 semi-final
4-2 v Argentina, 2006 World Cup quarter-final
6-5 v Italy, EURO 2016 quarter-final