The game of the day
Germany against Spain (6 p.m., ARD). The match is not being played on or around Mallorca, but in Stuttgart and for a place in the semi-finals. Some even claim that the match is a kind of early final: the home team against the most convincing team in the tournament so far. Or: Germany against its arch-rivals. Only one national player was already born when the DFB last won against Spain: Manuel Neuer. And he certainly doesn’t remember the match. In 1988, the West German team won 2-0 in the preliminary round of the European Championship. Double goalscorer: Rudi Völler. As is well known, there is only one of them, but as the current DFB sports director he was at least able to support the team in their preparations.
The rest of the game:
Portugal – France (9pm, ZDF)
© Bongarts/Getty Images
Who will be important today?
Robert Andrich. As a bodyguard, he not only has to protect Toni Kroos from overly pushy colleagues from the Spanish league today, but ideally he also has to be the Kevin Costner for the entire defense. They will probably have a tough time with the young wingers Yamal and Williams. Even though Joshua Kimmich is used to a lot of hustle and bustle as a father of four children, he could use a helping hand from Andrich. Andrich will be the only German player wearing pink today. The dyed mohawk could be a decisive advantage as a diversionary tactic, at least in the first quarter of an hour. But maybe the hairstyle is also a sign of solidarity with the much-criticized MagentaTV? The DFB team will hope that Andrich runs faster than the stream did recently.
Phrase of the day
Playing with the comb in your pocket.
(Playing with the comb in the pocket, French)
Speaking of hairstyles: If a player on the pitch is obviously more concerned with looking good than playing with his team and winning, then in France he is accused of playing with a comb in his pocket. Robert Andrich would never do that.
Who is already European Champion?
Germany’s writers. The national team of authors became European football champions a few weeks ago. In their own country. With a 1-0 win against the title favorites from Spain. If that isn’t a good omen. The Spaniards were outplayed in the game with a long pass from the defense. The striker who was reached could only be stopped with a foul, and the Germans converted the resulting penalty. Not the finest method, but effective. And perhaps also an option for this evening. The pass came from our ZEIT colleague Johannes Ehrmann, by the way. Congratulations!
What was the quote of the day?
“I have never worked.”
(This statement by Toni Kroos is enviable enough. After the European Championships, he will also stop not working.)
© Christian Charisius/dpa
Germany against Spain (6 p.m., ARD). The match is not being played on or around Mallorca, but in Stuttgart and for a place in the semi-finals. Some even claim that the match is a kind of early final: the home team against the most convincing team in the tournament so far. Or: Germany against its arch-rivals. Only one national player was already born when the DFB last won against Spain: Manuel Neuer. And he certainly doesn’t remember the match. In 1988, the West German team won 2-0 in the preliminary round of the European Championship. Double goalscorer: Rudi Völler. As is well known, there is only one of them, but as the current DFB sports director he was at least able to support the team in their preparations.
