The fall of the Berlin Wall was one of the events that preceded German reunification. In November 1989, the physical division was torn down. In October 1990, the country forgot past quarrels and became one again, also, of course, in football. Since then, Spain has not lost in an official match against the 'Mannschaft', their opponents in the quarter-finals of EURO 2024.

 It was not until 1994 that the two teams met in a tournament. It was on the second day of the group stage of the World Cup in the United States. The Germans had beaten Bolivia in the opener, while 'La Roja' drew (2-2) against South Korea. Javier Clemente's side took the lead after 14 minutes through Goikoetxea. But Klinsmann's second-half equaliser earned a 1-1 draw for his side.

It took 14 years for Spain and Germany to meet again in a competition. The wait was worth it, at least for the team then coached by Luis Aragones. A goal by Fernando Torres set up by Xavi in that Euro 2008 final in Austria and Switzerland meant a second European crown for Spain's trophy cabinet and, moreover, the first victory against this country after reunification.

Much less time had passed for another clash. Once again, a major objective was at stake. The semi-final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa brought together again the same teams as in 2008. With Vicente del Bosque at the helm, a Puyol header with another Xavi assist allowed 'la Roja' to reach the final of their only World Cup title to date.

It was not until 2020 that Spain and Germany met again in an official match. They shared a group in the Nations League, in its first edition. After a 1-1 draw in Germany, Luis Enrique's side thrashed their opponents in La Cartuja with a 6-0 win that still seems to sting on German soil. That result allowed the national team to reach a final in which they would lose to France with that controversial goal by Mbappe, validated, curiously, by the same referee who will referee on Friday: Anthony Taylor.

Finally, they drew (1-1) at the World Cup in Qatar, where the Mannschaft earned their first point in a group stage they would never get out of. They went out on their own merits, but they were also not helped by Japan's win over Spain on the final matchday. Had Luis Enrique's side won, Germany, with four points, would have gone through to the last 16 as group runners-up.