Sabina sings that “to the place where you have been happy you should not try to return.” And the reality is that Spain plays at home in Stuttgart because those of Luis de la Fuente converted the capital of the Baden-Wurtemberg state in its operations center. From here all the Spaniard flights left to the Eurocup matches in which champions were crowned. Only 125 kilometers from DonaAschinguen, the fort in which the selection in the black jungle was held, in Stuttgart the Spaniards knocked down in the rooms to the German host with a goal from Mikel Merino. AND From here they traveled to Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Dusseldorf, Colonia, Munich and again to Berlin to crown the dream of winning the Eurocup against Kane and Bellingham's England.
Donaueschinguen, kilometers
This time Spain will not step Because they will limit themselves to staying in Stuttgart, where they will play the semifinal against France this Thursday (21.00). Then, in the event that they win, those of De la Fuente will move to a less chaotic and gray city on Friday, Munich, the capital of Bavaria. The place where Lamine Yamal dazzled the world for the first time with her goal against Mbappé France in the semifinals of the Eurocup, a defeat that the Gauls want to avenge this Thursday in Stuttgart.
In case of defeat, Spain would be measured to the loser of Germany-Portugal next Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in Stuttgart, in the same stadium where the French will face tomorrow. Germany is, therefore, conquered land that hides memories and experiences for players, journalists and fans who toured the Teutone nation between June 14 and July 14 on their disastrous highways, by train or by plane.
One thing has changed since then. When Spain landed at Stuttgart the first week of June 2024, just a year ago, no one opted for those of De la Fuente. To the point that in the poster of the tournament, in which several stars of European football appeared, there was not a Spanish player. Now they arrive as valid champions of the Nations League, a title they conquered in the Netherlands in 2023 undoing Italy and Croatia, two selections that have not reached this time to the Final Four. Spain is a favorite for its double condition as a current champion of the Nations League and the Eurocup. A pressure that the group carries well and that they handle comfortably despite the powerful selections that make up the picture of these semifinals in Germany.
Inflection point of “the wild foals”
In Germany the happiest story of a generation began to be written, that of “the wild foals” (Lamine and Nico Williams), that of the selection of 'stone, paper or scissors', who was able to knock down four world champions on his way to the title. Italy, Germany, France and England bit the dust then. Teutones and Gauls come to this tournament to settle outstanding accounts with a Spain where Rodri will be missing, but that is still the owner of the ball with Fabián, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine and Nico associating around it.
The Germans do not forget the defeat in Stuttgart in the rooms and especially the play in which A shot by a German striker ended up stumbling on Cucurella's arm, which since then is booed by the Teutone stands. “Surely they remind me, but it doesn't worry me. We will continue focusing on ours,” said the side in a press room fun this Tuesday.
Spain seeks in Germany to become the first selection that the Nations League win twice, Something that would also make the two titles consecutively. He already lost the first edition in a final in which Mbappé helped himself hand in hand in the play of the goal of the Triumph of the Gauls. And he will try to do it in a place that is known to him, a country that starts a smile from the Spanish internationals: Germany … Germany … Deutschland.