Adrion vows Germany will take game to Spain

Slow off the mark and beaten at the death by the Netherlands on matchday one, Germany seem intent on seizing the initiative against Spain on Sunday. Coach Rainer Adrion has vowed to take the game to the defending champions when the teams meet at the Netanya Municipal Stadium. His Spanish counterpart Julen Lopetegui, meanwhile, wants his team to focus on their own game and build on the 1-0 win they registered against Russia on Thursday.

Rainer Adrion, Germany coach
Spain have a lot of quality in attack and some big names in defence; they have a solid squad overall. For us it is important to make our qualities count in defence and in transition. We have analysed Spain and have huge respect for them. We need to defend against them as a unit – there will be no man-marking for Isco or any other player.

If we manage to stop their attacks and switch to attack immediately, then Spain are vulnerable. We need to exploit the spaces in midfield, but will also require precision with our final passes. We will not play with a defensive formation. You saw against the Netherlands that a more risky approach suits our playing style more. Perhaps the opponent gets a bit more space that way, but we don't want Spain to have too much possession. We want to have most of the possession ourselves and put Spain under pressure.

Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München impressively beat the Spanish sides in the Champions League. Two Spanish teams were eliminated then, but if that's part of a trend, that can only be judged in a few years. We need at least one or two more years to say that there has been a shift in power.

Matchday one result
Netherlands 3-2 Germany (Maher 24, Wijnaldum 38, Fer 90; Rudy 47pen, Holtby 81)
Leno; Sorg, Ginter, Thesker, Jantschke; Rode (Polter 80), Rudy; Hermann, Holtby, Mlapa (Volland 39); Lasogga (Clemens 61).

• The Netherlands led 2-0 at the break through Adam Maher and Georginio Wijnaldum but were pegged back by a Sebastian Rudy penalty and Lewis Holtby's low drive. However, the Jong Oranje were not to be denied and substitute Leroy Fer headed in the winner at the death.

Team news
"It's possible there will be some changes from the Netherlands game," Adrion said. While Peniel Mlapa is out for the rest of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, Germany will also have to do without midfielder Christoph Moritz against Spain because of flu. Defender Sead Kolasinac and striker Sebastian Polter will be available after recovering from minor knocks.

Julen Lopetegui, Spain coach
We are in the finals so no team are going to be an easy game. It's very difficult to win these games and against Russia we nearly didn't – but I think this is normal in this kind of tournament. We just need to work hard and keep our options open.

Germany have a very complete squad; they have got options. They played a really good match against the Netherlands and they had their chances to win, even though they eventually lost. They played a really good second half. However, we just have to focus on our game – we know what we have to do.

Germany play at the very highest level and their players have a lot of quality. They are versatile and they have players who are at some of the biggest teams in Europe. Every team has a chance of getting through to the semi-finals, but for now we think only about our match against Germany.

Matchday one result
Spain 1-0 Russia (Morata 82)
De Gea; Montoya, Bartra, Martínez, Moreno; Illarramendi, Thiago, Isco; Tello (Koke 85), Muniain (Morata 63), Rodrigo (Canales 78).

• Russia had frustrated the holders and seemed destined to earn a share of the spoils only for Álvaro Morata to head in with eight minutes remaining.

Team news
Sergio Canales was forced to fly home after being ruled out of the finals with a hamstring injury sustained against Russia. "It's a big blow as you never expect something like this," said Lopetegui.

Match fact
The countries last met in the group stage of the 2009 finals in Sweden, when they played out a goalless draw in Gothenburg on matchday one. While Germany went on to finish second in Group B and eventually claimed the title, Spain were third in the section and eliminated.

Did you know?
Lopetegui was an unused substitute as Spain drew 1-1 against Germany in Chicago at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.