'TWO BEST TEAMS' COLLIDE

Lehmann believes Germany will beat Spain’s youth team’, del Bosque disagrees

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STUTTGART - Former Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said Spain are "too small and very inexperienced" but former La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque was in "no doubt" that his national side will win as things heat up ahead of the pick of the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.

Spain have been the most impressive team at the tournament, with hosts Germany also a contender for that crown, setting up a tantalising last-eight clash at the Stuttgart Arena on July 5.

They are also the most successful sides in European Championship history, with three titles apiece.

Lehmann called La Roja - whose stars include wingers Lamine Yamal, 16, and Nico Williams, 21, as well as 21-year-old playmaker Pedri - "basically a youth team".

The former World Cup, Euro and Champions League runner-up told German broadcaster Welt that the hosts would prevail "because it is usually the case in a tournament that a team who are as highly praised as the Spaniards and has undoubtedly shown why, their good results suddenly change".

The former Arsenal shot-stopper, 54, added: "This has happened to the Spaniards before and from a technical point of view, they are perhaps even better than us. But they are too small in size and they are very inexperienced. They are basically a youth team.