Germany take on fellow title contenders Spain in their mouth-watering Euro 2024 quarter-final clash on Friday, hoping to end a winless run at tournaments against them that stretches back to 1988.

The Germans are enjoying their best international tournament in eight years with home fans desperate for their first title in a decade but their match against the Spaniards is also seen as a premature final between two of the hottest teams in the competition.

Spain cruised through their group with wingers Lamine Yamal, who is the youngest player to feature at a Euros at 16, and Nico Williams quickly establishing a superb partnership that has terrorised opposing defences with their speed and creative play.

With Fabian Ruiz directing their game, often called “possession with a purpose”, there is a constant drive forward instead of merely holding onto thPe ball.

Penalty shootout records of Euro 2024 quarter-finalists

ENGLAND (won two, lost seven)

1990 World Cup semi-final: Lost 4-3 v West Germany after 1-1 draw

1996 Euros quarter-final: Won 4-2 v Spain after 0-0 draw

1996 Euros semi-final: Lost 6-5 v Germany after 1-1 draw

1998 World Cup last-16: Lost 4-3 v Argentina after 2-2 draw

2004 Euros quarter-final: Lost 6-5 v Portugal after 2-2 draw

2006 World Cup quarter-final: Lost 3-1 v Portugal after 0-0 draw

2012 Euros quarter-final: Lost 4-2 v Italy after 0-0 draw

2018 World Cup last-16: Won 4-3 v Colombia after 1-1 draw

2020 Euros final: Lost 3-2 v Italy after 1-1 draw)

FRANCE (won three, lost five)

1982 World Cup semi-final: Lost 5-4 v West Germany after 3-3 draw

1986 World Cup quarter-final: Won 4-3 v Brazil after 1-1 draw

1996 Euros quarter-final: Won 5-4 v Netherlands after 0-0 draw

1996 Euros semi-final: Lost 6-5 to Czech Republic after 0-0 draw

1998 World Cup quarter-final: Won 4-3 v Italy after 0-0 draw

2006 World Cup final: Lost 5-3 v Italy after 1-1 draw

2020 Euros last-16: Lost 5-4 to Switzerland after 3-3 draw

2022 World Cup final: Lost 4-2 v Argentina after 3-3 draw

GERMANY (won six, lost one)

1976 Euros final: Lost 5-3 v Czechoslovakia after 2-2 draw

1982 World Cup semi-final: Won 5-4 v France after 3-3 draw

1986 World Cup quarter-final: Won 4-1 v Mexico after 0-0 draw

1990 World Cup semi-final: Won 4-3 v England after 1-1 draw

1996 Euros semi-final: Won 6-5 v England after 1-1 draw

2006 World Cup quarter-final: Won 4-2 v Argentina after 1-1 draw

2016 Euros quarter-final: Won 6-5 v Italy after 1-1 draw

NETHERLANDS (won two, lost six)

1992 Euros semi-final: Lost 5-4 v Denmark after 2-2 draw

1996 Euros quarter-final: Lost 5-4 v France after 0-0 draw

1998 World Cup semi-final: Lost 4-2 v Brazil after 1-1 draw

2000 Euros semi-final: Lost 3-1 v Italy after 0-0 draw

2004 Euros quarter-final; Won 5-4 v Sweden after 0-0 draw

2014 World Cup quarter-final: Won 4-3 v Costa Rica after 0-0 draw

2014 World Cup semi-final: Lost 4-2 v Argentina after 0-0 draw

2022 World Cup quarter-final Lost 4-3 v Argentina after 2-2 draw

PORTUGAL (won four, lost one)

2004 Euros quarter-final: Won 6-5 v England after 2-2 draw

2006 World Cup quarter-final: Won 3-1 v England after 0-0 draw

2012 Euros semi-final: Lost 4-2 v Spain after 0-0 draw

2016 Euros quarter-final: Won 5-3 v Poland after 1-1 draw

2024 Euros last-16: Won 3-0 v Slovenia after 0-0 draw

SPAIN (won five, lost six)

1984 Euros semi-final: Won 5-4 v Denmark after 1-1 draw

1986 World Cup quarter-final: Lost 5-4 v Belgium after 1-1 draw

1996 Euros quarter-final: Lost 4-2 v England after 0-0 draw

2002 World Cup last-16: Won 3-2 v Republic of Ireland after 1-1 draw

2002 World Cup quarter-final: Lost 5-3 v South Korea after 0-0 draw

2008 Euros quarter-final: Won 4-2 v Italy after 0-0 draw

2012 Euros semi-final: Won 4-2 v Portugal after 0-0 draw

2018 World Cup last-16: Lost 4-3 v Russia after 1-1 draw

2020 Euros quarter-final: Won 3-1 v Switzerland after 1-1 draw

2010 Euros semi-final: Lost 4-2 v Italy after 1-1 draw

2022 World Cup last-16: Lost 3-0 v Morocco after 0-0 draw

SWITZERLAND (won one, lost three)

2006 World Cup last-16: Lost 3-0 v Ukraine after 0-0 draw

2016 Euros last-16: Lost 5-4 v Poland after 1-1 draw

2020 Euros last-16: Won 5-4 v France after 3-3 draw

2020 Euros quarter-final: Lost 3-2 v Spain after 1-1 draw

TURKEY (won one)

2008 Euros quarter-final: Won 3-1 v Croatia after 1-1 draw

Their 4-1 victory over Georgia in the round of 16 confirmed their good form with their fourth win in four matches as they look for a record fourth European title.

The Germans, who have also won the tournament three times, had to dig deep to top their group with a stoppage-time equaliser against Switzerland before their 2-0 knockout stage win over Denmark.

But it is how their defensive organisation copes with Spain’s lethal attacking football that is likely to decide the outcome.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has a tough decision to make for the left back position, with attack-minded David Raum and Maximilian Mittelstaedt having occupied it in recent games.

He could potentially opt for a more defensive option in Benjamin Henrichs.

“We should not be hiding against Spain,” said captain Ilkay Gundogan. “As a team we can more than keep up with them. We also have extreme qualities.

“I think the Spaniards have more respect for us than they tend to admit in public.”

The Germans are also up against a 36-year winless run at tournaments against Spain with their last victory dating back to Euro 1988.

They lost the 2010 World Cup semi-final to them as well as the 2008 Euro final while also suffering a 6-0 demolition in the Nations League four years ago.

“I don’t want to offend anyone but we have the best team at this tournament,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. “We are going to fight for it and we know what we have ahead of us, which is Germany.

“It is the well-known German machine. It will be a very close match, but we are very confident of our game.”