Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has dismissed Spain as a “team of kids” ahead of the nations’ Euro 2024 quarter-final on Friday.
Spain’s young side have breezed through to the last eight as the only side with a 100 per cent record in the competition, impressing many with a brand of football that relies heavily on wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.
Williams is 21 and Yamal just 16 but both have starred alongside 21-year-old Pedri.
Spain have experience in other areas but Lehmann is not phased at the thought of Germany meeting Luis de la Fuente’s side in Stuttgart.
He told Welt TV: “We’ve seen the good results [Spain] have had, without doubt, in the group phase.
“In terms of technique, they might be better than us. But they’re small in terms of height, and they’re inexperienced.
“They’re a team of kids. They have very young players. They don’t have much international experience.”
💪🏼 La foto del 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 de hoy me parece especialmente guapa.#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/nrZ3o5EaqJ
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 3, 2024
Lehmann, who won 61 caps for Germany, believes Spain will soon be found out.
He added: “It is usually the case in a tournament that a team who are as highly praised as the Spanish and have shown why, their good results suddenly change.
“This has happened to the Spanish before.”
Another former Germany player Michael Ballack questioned Spain’s ability to withstand the counter attack.
Ballack said: “They play good football without a doubt. But maybe it’s risky if they don’t score and their opponent attacks with determination. Then they are vulnerable.
“If they lose the ball when they are coming forward, they are disorganised behind. Spain seemed surprisingly vulnerable against Georgia when they counter-attacked.”
