Spain vs Germany: Clash of contrasts promises to be the game of the group stage

Both managers sit in their nation’s hotseat after prolific success in club football – the last two teams to win the European treble were Flick’s Bayern Munich in 2020, and Luis Enrique’s Barcelona in 2016. Having cut their cloth at the most elite level of football, both managers have tried to instil club-like tactics into their teams.

Enrique, in the job a few years longer, has seen more success with his variation, a subtle twist on the classic Spanish tiki-taka. Enrique follows the mould – a strong emphasis on being proactive rather than reactive, holding possession for long periods of time and attempting to break down defences through intricate passing patterns.

But in emphasising space in central areas, rather than relying on width for chance creation, he has prioritised technical ability in his playing squad more than anything else.

Much of the plaudits are grabbed by Barcelona duo Pedri and Gavi, the impulse to compare them to Xavi and Iniesta is evident, but both are stylistically different – better at pressing higher, less helpful defensively, yet equally helpful in breaking down opposition defences. (READ MORE)