Germany have gone to extreme measures to ensure their tactical plans are not leaked ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final showdown against Spain.
In a last eight match worthy of the final, hosts Germany take on La Roja on Friday evening in Stuttgart.
Spain have arguably been the tournament’s most impressive side so far, winning all three of their group games before blowing away Georgia in their last 16 match with Nico Williams and 16-year-old Lamine Yamal in scintillating form.
With the stakes high, German tabloid Bild report there is ‘fear of espionage’ inside the German camp with special security measures in place to keep Julian Nagelsmann’s top secret game plan away from prying eyes.
Wary of Spanish spectators watching over training sessions, fences have already been erected over the German camp in Herzogenaurach in Bavaria with tarpaulins also in place overhead.
As has also been the case throughout the tournament, security is in place around the facilities with police on horse back also patrolling the perimeter.
Bild report ‘crazy’ extra measures now include staff playing loud music on their mobile phones to prevent anyone from listening in on what is happening on the training pitch.
Two Bild reporters tested the procedure, approaching the training facility on a pedestrian path where they were ‘followed every step of the way’ by security even when they changed direction.
The songs being blared out to drown out any tactical nuggets from within the grounds are the title song from the German children’s series ‘Benjamin Blümchen’ and ‘Cheri Cheri Lady’ from 1980s pop duo Modern Talking.
Like Spain, Germany are undefeated at Euro 2024, thrashing Scotland in their opening group game before beating Hungary to secure their place in the knockout stages.
The hosts were held to a draw in their final group against Switzerland’s – England’s quarter-final opponents – and were given a scare in their last 16 tie when Denmark thought they had taken the lead through Joachim Andersen.
His effort was ruled out for a tight offside decision with the Crystal Palace star penalised moments later for a dubious handball. Germany went onto win 2-0.
The winner of Friday’s game with meet the winners of France vs Portugal in another mouth-watering tie in the semi-finals.
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