Spain v Germany: Kroos convinced hosts can go all the way ahead of Euro 2024 quarter-final

Host nation Germany face Spain at the Stuttgart Arena on Friday in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 riding a wave of belief that has been missing for almost a decade.

The eagerly anticipated clash (8pm UAE) pits together arguably the tournament's two most impressive sides, with the Germans shrugging off their recent disappointments to reach the last eight of a major event for the first time since they lost in the semi-finals of Euro 2016. They had been world champions in Brazil two years earlier.

Julian Nagelsmann's side made a flying start to their home tournament with crushing victories over Scotland and Hungary, but were less convincing in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland to close out the group stage, and then had to ride their luck in a 2-0 victory over the unfortunate Denmark in the last 16.

Spain, meanwhile, arrived in Germany as a team considered to have a chance of going all the way, but their vibrant displays have seen them emerge as many people's favourites for the title.

One of Germany's survivors from their 2014 World Cup win is also a man who knows the Spanish side better than most. Toni Kroos, who spent much of his career collecting medals at Real Madrid, will hang up his boots after the Euros and he is convinced his career will not come to an end in Stuttgart.

"I am not at all nostalgic and I don't feel like this will be my last-ever match," said the 34-year-old midfielder, who came out of international retirement after a personal plea from Nagelsmann.

"The goal is to win the tournament. We want to go a lot further and in the dressing room we are very convinced we will achieve that."

A player with an astonishing record of success, six-time Champions League winner Kroos believes the ability to win the big games