STUTTGART, Germany: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his side may need to get creative to stop Germany’s “brutal” Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter final in Stuttgart.
“We thought about tying Kroos feet together, but I’m not sure if UEFA will let me,” the 63-year-old coach joked in Stuttgart on Thursday.
“We know how Kroos behaves. We will try and make sure he doesn’t have the chance to receive the ball and will limit his passing options.
“We’ll appeal to UEFA to see if we can tie him down.”
Spain head into Friday’s clash as the only side at Euro 2024 who have won every game, with four wins from four.
Hosts Germany are however not far behind, having won three and drawn one on their way to the quarter final.
De la Fuente called Kroos “a world-class player, a footballer playing at a brutal level.
“He brought talent, charisma and quality into the dressing room. The confidence he transmits to the other players is contagious and has been very good for Germany.
“It’s a pity he’s leaving football because I love to watch him play.”
Germany and Spain are the equal most successful sides in Euros history, with both having won three Euros titles.
The Spanish coach however said the winner on Friday would not become the favorite to win the final in Berlin on July 14.
“No, there are other powerful teams. Nothing is free here — the closer you get to the final, the best will remain.
“We don’t see ourselves as favorites, we see ourselves as a strong team who want to fight for everything and fight until the end.”
Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan said a passionate home crowd in Stuttgart “could be the difference” between the two form sides at the competition, but de la Fuente said it could work to Spain’s advantage.
“At this level, home-field advantage doesn’t have much influence. My players are professionals and will not be intimidated by the hostile environment.
“Sometimes, that factor goes against the home team.”
Spain captain Dani Carvajal, who has played alongside Kroos at Real for a decade, said he “hadn’t spoken to him — I’ll wait until tomorrow.
“As the manager said, I hope we can tie him down. It’ll be a very special match for him.”

LONDON: Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to fight by British outsider Jacob Fearnley before reaching the third round for the 18th time on Thursday.
Djokovic triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 but had to save two break points midway through the fourth set before seeing off the challenge of the world number 277.
“I had never seen him play so there is always the element of surprise,” admitted Djokovic.
“He had nothing to lose and served well. I was a little lucky in the fourth set. I could have won the match in three and it could have gone to a fifth.
“The way he was playing, I’m glad it didn’t.”
The 37-year-old Djokovic had cruised through the first two sets on Center Court against a player who was making his Grand Slam debut this week.
He was a break up in the third to lead 3-2 but Fearnley, who was still playing university tennis in the United States last month, retrieved the break immediately.
He then rode the momentum to claim the third set.
Fearnley forced the 24-time Grand Slam champion to save two break points in the sixth game of the fourth set.
Djokovic made the Briton pay for his failure to convert the advantage and gained a final crucial break in the 11th game before serving out the match.
“I didn’t really feel comfortable in my own skin in the third and fourth sets,” said Djokovic.
“But sometimes you have rough days when you don’t feel your best. It’s a win and I’ll take it.”
Djokovic fired 34 winners past Fearnley, whose 42 winners were canceled out by an unforced error count of 49.
World number two Djokovic will take on Australia’s Alexei Popyrin for a place in the last 16.