Captain Ilkay Gündogan expressed confidence in the German national football team as they prepare to face Spain in the European Championship quarter-final. In an interview with ARD, Gündogan stated that he believes Germany has qualities that match up with Spain, and that the Spaniards have more respect for them than they may publicly admit.
Gündogan acknowledged the talent of his FC Barcelona teammates Lamine Yamal and Pedri, describing Yamal as an “extremely special player” at just 16 years old. However, he noted that Yamal still has room for growth, particularly in defensive movements and ball retention.
The key factor in the upcoming match, according to Gündogan, will be which team can better handle not having possession of the ball. He emphasized the importance of this aspect in determining the outcome of the game. Gündogan believes that Friday’s match will see two of the top teams in the tournament facing off in Stuttgart, based on their current form, performances, attractiveness, and efficiency.