The GENIUS Way Spain Adapted To Beat Germany 

So basically two excellent teams managed well and sound fundamentally going toe to toe and each taking advantage of the smallest of mistakes. It was fun to watch. Better than the snooze fest that came later.

This was probably the best game of the tournament on a technical level. Not the most excithing but definitely the highest level of football we've seen

Merino's "turn around the corner flag" celebration was in homage to his father, who did that very same celebration on that very same pitch.

Such a shame that the best game was not the final. I dont care about winning the tournament that much, but i was so much fun seeing germany play. After like 8 years of misery and poor spirit, we finally have a mannschaft again. Lets hope they get even better for the next WC.

The great thing about these analysis videos is that you accurately cover the minute details when needed, but don’t try too hard to over-analyse and find some extraordinary tactic when it’s not there, you appreciate the simple/intangible things in the game. Great stuff again!

Germany were worthy opponents, and if they had won, I would be sad but not disappointed. I just wished this game would have been the final, because Germany deserved to be runner up, not leave at quarterfinals, they are much better than any other team in the QF.

This was the biggest game in football and most tactical i have seen in years, the Euros is over for me but what a game... i hope they both play again at the world cup semi final in 2026 not the quarter final

Lineker needs to insert a footnote to his quote: "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, Spain always beats Germany". Germany haven't won against Spain since 1988 except for friendlies!

Merino one big ace trait is precisely that he is really good on the air not only for a midfielder but any player in general , not only in great heading and decent jumping hability but also the positioning strategy, so i think it was a real clever sub specially given fabian wasnt playing that spectacular

As said in a previous video, this was the Euro's final. Spain and Germany were and are the two best teams by a lightyear and one just beat out the other and will go on to win the tournament.

Imagine having actual tactics. Crazy

German here, really enjoy watching your videos and getting insights of the tactics used. You have the perfect mix of explaining them easy to understand yet complex enough to cover everything important:

Spaniard subscriber, good analysis. Germany tried to shock-circuit Spain (Kroos's "murder" attempt on Pedri, and their stiffling of Rodri, like you said). Referee was iffy as well. Spain showed there is more to us than wingers (amazing as they are). And, we got lucky 🙂

Yes, Kroos played very aggressively and imho he deserved a yellow card for his fouls in the first 10 minutes. However fouls are (unfortunately?) part of the game and a valid method that EVERY team draws when out of better options. Just look at how Mursiala got held and wrestled to see both sides played hard. To say Kroos should or would have been sent off the field is an absurd argument. It implies that one of the best players in the world doesn't adjust his behaviour after receiving a first yellow card and just stupidly continues to get the second. There was no danger of him being sent off, period. To me, the game was very, very close. In first half and into the second, Spain did better. After the spanish goal in 51', Germany started creating a number of better chances than spain had all game. They finally got lucky and scored out of one of these in 89', but in overtime Spain got their own lucky punch in 119' against a still dominantly pressing Germany. The no-penalty decision at the beginning of overtime was critical, and I cannot understand why it was not even checked by the referee. I do not assume intention, but blocking a shot on target with your arm should be penalized, and while his arm was facing "downwards", it was nowhere near his significantly tilted body, thus increasing the "blocking area". To me, that's a clear penalty that would have changed the game. Overall, I don't think one side dominated the other. This was a match on eye-level and no side can complain that it was decided basically in a coin flip, which could have went either way. Anybody who says Spain dominated clearly saw a different game than me and imho does the German team injustice. The level was far above anything else I've seen in this tournament, and I hope that Spain can proceed to win the EURO as arguably the best team from the start, but clearly the best team left now in the tournament.

This was a very highly tactical football game, and i so much loved it

Tiki Ataka has been born.

I am disappointed about your analysis of the winner goal. You make it look like it was luck. Not at all. You have to go back a few seconds and see how Spain recovered the ball that was in possession of Neuer. He passes it with the hand to the nearest player to start from the back and immediately 5 Spanish players initiate a high block pressure (minute 118!!!), as a consequence of which germany losses the ball sending it out. Spain gains the possession in an overcrowded right wing and Carvajal sees the space in the left flank and makes a genius long pass to the left wing of the attack where Cucurella and Olmo are totally free to control, look and make a perfect pass to the box where there are 3 Spanish players (Oyarzabal, Joselu and Merino) entering like rockets overwhelming the defenders. Merino connects an outstanding header to score. The goal is the consequence of an outstanding physical condition of Spain (high pressure with 5 players in minute 118) and exquisite quality in the vision and performance of Carvajal, Olmo and Merino.

"ruin each other's lives"😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤I'm weak ASF rn

For Spain’s first goal I thought Andrich was still man-marking Fabian Ruiz and that’s why he left that space there in the middle

Just the cup of tea, thanks

Best game of euros

Congratulations = Felicidades

Excellent analysis as always Clery Sir

For me, this definitely was the most exciting game of the Euro's. Could've gone either way and there are referee decisions you can discuss, like a pre VAR oldschool game with modern football even though it's just international football. My main thought while watching that game was: "There will never be an international game that's so close to club football ever again!" But I' m biased (German).....but this game was soooo much fun to watch

Pedri played only 6 minutes

I loved the game and well done for the analysis bro ❤

I feel like Spain Germany is ALWAYS A CLASSIC THIS CENTURY 🇪🇸🇩🇪🥳🥳🥳

Well done is felicidades... great analysis thanks you

You cannot really discuss this game at a strategic level and not mention the impact of referee Anthony Taylor on the proceedings. His unwillingness to show a card to Kroos (pronounced like gross, not cruise) and to a lesser extent in the first half Can, combined with an amazing number of obvious additional tactical fouls not being punished, completely stifled the play and is a key factor in the defences being able to get on top. By my reckoning, Toni earned at least 3 yellows in this game. If we had had the young Turkish ref (Halil Umut Meler) in charge of this game, we would for sure have seen a few more cards early on and a more open game thereafter. It is actually quite shocking that UEFA chose Taylor and Orsato, who have been amongst the weakest referees so far this tournament, for the QFs. Hopefully the England-Switzerland game will not be marred by the types of poor decision-making that Daniele has already demonstrated far too often.

Second time that Germany gets eliminated by a header of a Spanish hobbit in the Euros. The first one, Puyol, was watching. I think he manifested his energy.

Do you realise the de la fuente has worked with the core of theas players and won the 2019 under 21 Simon olmo ruiz merino oyarzabal so they have the trust of the manager and tactically sound

High quality game but Olmo was the most qualityiest (is that a word?).

Tactical genius to avoid losing by having Unai Simon make a brilliant save and Fullkrug miss a couple of good chances. De La Fuente might be a genius, but let’s be honest, Spain won as much through a couple of moment’s of luck and skill as they did from anything the coach did.

Well, I feel that Germany changed their style of play to adapt to Spain and the Spanish had very little to hold up against that. Luckily for Spain they have Olmo who plays in Germany and is one of the best Spanish players overall. Germany totally ruled Spain but Havertz did simply not score. That's the problem.

Another great video from our main man Adam Clery!

Excellent job mate

Genius. So good. Man ... I heard a semi-finalist team is in need of a smart, creative coach - you free?

Whos here after the final

thank you, good analysis

You should also cover how Spain defended particularly how obvious Rodri was responsible for marking Jamal Musiala, he was basically stuck to Musiala when Germany had the ball. Explains also why Carvajal made sure to foul Musiala towards the end even though he knew it would meant a 2nd yellow and hence a red card.

Great!

You cover your faux pas quite well. Another great and entertaining video 😁

Bold statement by nagelsmann that they will win world cup 2026. I mean how their defence is bad and with kroos gone now the midfield is in shambles.

The best thing about Kroos retiring is not having to hear anglophones mess up the pronounciation of his name.

I really dont know much about football, strategy or anyting like that, but i do love watching the big tournaments. Is anyone else here not convinced by Kai Havertz? From a layman perspective he was just terrible....am i missing something?

I’m not convinced France will lay a finger on this Spain side in that SF. Especially if Deschamps persists with the Diamond midfield. (Hoping to curse the game so we get a 5-4 ET thriller to make up for obvious snooze fest of 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v 🇳🇱)

Superb

Using your hand to block a goal was a new tactic id not seen work before

video on france struggles in front of goal or do you think its just poor finishing vs something tactical?

I'm still astonished how Nagelsmann just needed 12 months to almost match Spains long-term philosophy...

10:32 I actually saw that! I saw that and thought of Adam and that they needed to go on the flanks more and use that space! Have I actually learned something about football?! In just half a dozen videos?!

Amazing winning goal

Spain owns Germany in major competitions : Euro 2008 Spain 1- Germany 0 World Cup 2010 Spain 1 - Germany 0 UEFA Nations League 2020 Spain 6- Germany 0 World Cup 2022 Spain 1 - Germany 1 Euro 2024 Spain 2- Germany 1

This is absolute gold! How do you get the heatmaps and all of that? Would help me make an amazing analytics (and fun) university project haha

Ladies and gentleman... England will be playing four-four-f*cking two. 😐

I must be getting better as I said the same about the first half.

Spain got lucky since de la Fuente went full Southgate after going ahead with his subs. Never go full Southgate. Williams was not tracking Kimmich all game but made him a massive threat on the counter so Kimmich was in two minds whether to get forward in the first half. Once Williams was off in the second half, Kimmich was able to get forward with total freedom which ultimately led to him getting the assist for the equaliser. Funny that it was Kimmich not getting close enough for the cross for the winner so that flank ended up being the key to this game IMO.

I think this was a case of bad luck for Germany. Wirtz and Fulkrug had a number of shots literally inches away from being a goal. In training 8 maybe 9/10 times they’d have gone in. You could argue the penalty too. Shame really. Well played Spain.

De La Fuente plays Klopp football, but with much more silky players.

The genius way being they got lucky Germany don't have a striker on their team? 😂 Come on, Adam, the game should've ended before extra time if only Germany could finish their dinner. Granted, Spain wasn't just hanging around doing nothing but they went through 70% thanks to the Germans' inability to score and 30% due to their own ability and they will likely be eliminated by France due to missing some important players. Credit where credit's due, they sure are entertaining to watch and all they do have a cohesive system but this game in particular they got lucky.

Spain is so overpowered they broke the FourFourTwo jinx.

The best thing was making cucurella a goalkeeper

thx

Utilizing on the vision of the one and only Anthony Taylor as well as his ability to stay calm when Cucurella's arm was almost obliterated was the key factor to secure this victory.

You are good.

I am sorry we have to win with all the critics of the penalty , but i have to say that despite the referee it was a nice match to watch

Congratulations in Spanish is Felicidades

It really bothers me how you didn’t mention the best player for Spain, Dani olmo and had number 20 in every tactical map of Spain when he was replaced by ten early on.. I thought you “ tactical specialist” payed attention to details.. I guess not 👎

Spanish Empire!!!

if you put aside the ref, who really wasn't good in this game - both teams were on eyelevel and the match was open till the very end. Germany could have landed that lucky punch to win just as well as Spain. If that would have happened, I guess you would have put out a video titled "How Germany deciphered Spain to overcome their matchplan" - right?

Spain vs france who do you think I’ll win and score prediction?

🎉🎉🎉

😂 Germany once again destroyed by a Big Football Nation! They are done for years now 🤣

Can you please do a video on Canada? the stuff we are doing in copa to make it to the semis is crazy and Id love to see you make a video on it. Thanks :)

When was last time germany beat spain ?

In a normal world Kroos would have been red carded at least twice in this match

Congratulations in Spanish? Se dice "enhorabuena", pisha. 😉

Good analysis, but in essence we were luckier. Germany had more chances.

Kinda glad Toni Kroos is retiring. You won't have to mispronounce his name again 😄

Is your head meant to be that red??

germany dominated the 2nd half so hard it was kind of ridiculous. never seen something like that before

We must not forget the genius move of having a second goalkeeper on the spanish side, truly a masterclass.

Well in the end, the Team with the better keeper won. the first spanish goal was shocking. How the hell does the keeper not get it. it was an easy, not very hard shoot in the middle of the goal. that was really a disgrace.

How does one say congratulations in Spanish?

In the end just more luck. But yeah clickbait headlines.

Who said a handball team can‘t win a football match? (provided the referee was a bit more forgiving than usual)

Blocking with hands helps too

How the hell did Kroos not get sent off in this game? Leaving Kroos to play like a butcher for all of 120mins is a shame to decent officiating. See what he did to poor Pedri😭

Do you think it's a game changer in football tactics that Spain played Cucurella as a second goalkeeper? world class how he stops the ball from going into the goal. Im sorry my emotions got through it was a great game tho from both teams.

germany was so dominant in the second half and first for the most part of the extension time. Spain was lucky to score that goal between multiple incredible close calls by Germany

Lucky Spain have two goal keeper

Concerning the handball in the penalty ring what can you say about this team analyst

As a Germany fan, this loss hurt, and I'm not even German 😆 Honestly, either team progressing is well-deserved, it just came down to a bit of luck and a bit of individual moments (or lack thereof). Imo, handball on goal-bound shot should have been a penalty, but can't complain too much. It's the first time there's a real spark in this team in 10 years and it'll be a while before we get to see how Germany under Nagelsmann progress, especially without Kroos and likely Muller, Gundogan, and Neuer.

no comments on how shietty havertz was? botched atleast 10 attacks for germany

turns out playing with two goalies in the game helps

Yeah I’d be worried about the word “genius” but fair play to their coach, he has used his squad well and they came through. Spain vs France could end in tears for Spain. It’s the way these tournaments go sometimes. I hope Germany manage to keep their manager for the World Cup. Be surprised if they do though.

How Germany tried to stop Spain: Just injure everyone and then we can score in min 88.

Germany's equaliser initiated by a player that should not have been on the pitch.

The genius was probably outbidding Germany during the halftime

Germany had to resort to kicking them to stay in the game, Spain were way the better team.....glad they won for playing football and fuck Toni Kroos....