Germany approach ‘first final’ against tech-savvy Spain

Just one match into the Qatar World Cup, Germany face what amounts to a must-win clash against Spain on Sunday, a team they have not beaten in a competitive fixture since 1988.

The importance of the Spain match at the Al Bayt Stadium cannot be underestimated -- national squad manager and 1996 Euros winner Oliver Bierhoff said losing "our first final" in Qatar would have widespread ramifications for the for the future of football in Germany.

Far from being haunted by the ghosts of their early exit in Russia however, forward Kai Havertz said the match could represent "a turnaround" for the under-fire side, saying "we all dreamed of playing these games".

Captain Manuel Neuer on Friday said Sunday's match was "a huge chance", emphasising the side could learn from Russia "we blew it once and now we know how not to do it".

Spain, on the other hand, are apparently in a strikingly contrasting state than Germany are. Following a 7-0 demolition of Costa Rica in their World Cup opener, the Spaniards made it explicitly clear that they know where on the pitch they should be and what they need to do, at all times.

Spaniards impressive positional play may well be largely down to the fact that coach Luis Enrique has been innovative in his use of technology and outside-the-box thinking to get his players to operate within his set structure.

When Spain train, coach Luis Enrique sometimes stands on a scaffold tower, from where he has a better view of the players' positions and, using microphones on the back of their training vests, he can instruct them via walkie-talkie.

It saves the coach having to shout and facilitates easy communication without players having to leave their positions before running an exercise again.

"We train more on video than on the pitch," Luis Enrique said on Twitch channel last week – with live-streaming another example of his technology use at the tournament.

"There are players who do things with their clubs that are very different to what we ask, but we have seen when they come with us they do brilliantly."

Spain players use electric scooters to move between their accommodation and the training pitch, meaning the amount of time they have to spend cooped up in the team bus is shorter than ever at the World Cup.

Despite defeat by Japan, Hansi Flick's side should offer a sterner test than Costa Rica and it will be a chance for the Euro 2020 semi-finalists to see if Luis Enrique's plan works against teams great and small.