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A clash between the title-defenders and six-time European champions

Germany are defending the title from last season but Spain are traditionally the favorite. This is the group stage game from which we have the highest expectations. It's tough to give anyone the upper hand even through the Spaniards did brilliantly in the elite round

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The game all football enthusiasts following this have been waiting for in the group stage is this one - a clash between the defending champions Germany and six-time U19 champions Spain. Those two teams are, alongside the Dutch and the French the main contenders for the title. Their head-to-head in Larissa could say a lot about their real power and their tactics in Greece. 

Coach Marcus Sorg lead Germany to the trophy last year in Hungary but he struggled quite a lot in qualifiers. Germany were first defeated to Austria 5-1 in the group stage and needed a convincing win over the Czech Republic later on the elite round. They displayed power and beat the Czechs 6-0 to secure their spot in the final tournament in Greece. 

The political situation will most definitely see the Germans jeered at, with the local spectators rooting for the Spaniards. But Joshua Kimmich (Bayern München), Jonathan Tah (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Nadiem Amiri (Hoffenheim) and the forward duo Timo Werner (Stuttgart) and Leroy Sane (Schalke) are very powerful weapons for coach Sorg.

- Talent, fighting, and consistency in your play are the most important factors in these kind of tournaments. We already proved to have a lot character and that no one on the teams is afraid to take responsibility when necessary. We don't make excuses - coach Sorg said. He will be without midfielder Max Christiansen (a suspension).

- We have a great deal of respect for Spain but there's no fear. We will try and dictate what's happening on the pitch as much as we can but there will be time when we will have to defend. I believe in our spirit and unity and I expect a positive result at the start of the tournament - the German coach Sorg said.

Nothing really needs to be added to the aforementioned piece of information regarding Spain's 6 European U19 trophies. We can only add that the outcome in which Spain clinch another title is quite realistic. 

Of course, the road from dreams to reality is long but the Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente has a great deal of talent at his disposal. His team literally crushed all three rivals in the elite round (Georgia 4-1, Turkey 5-0, Portugal 4-0). 

Two young Real Madrid players, the midfielder and key playmaker Marco Asensio and forward Borja Mayoral are team's biggest stars but defender Jesus Vallejo Lazaro (Zaragoza) and midfielder Alfonso Pedraza (Villareal) will mostly likely be heard of in the future. Spain are still playing the tika-taka concept of play which means there is no weak links when it comes to technical skills. The opening game against the very pyhsically powerful Germany will say a lot about the true power of this team. 

- Almost half of my players were born in 1997 and still have the right to play for the U19 team next year. Many of them already have top division experience with their respective clubs. That says a lot about their talent and Spain's previous trophies mean that we once again have to fight to become the champions. However, there are a lot of good teams here, starting with Germany whom we meet today and whose quality we are very well aware of - the Spanish coach De la Fuente said. His team is among the youngest ones at this tournament. The age difference might be only a year but even such narrow age gap plays an important role in youth ranks, especially in one-on-one duels and aerial duels where the older and more physically powerful player dominates. 

- We'll try and get the ball on the ground because that is out style, that is how we'll try and create attempts. It will not be easy against the aggressive Germans but we prepared well for this tournament and we believe we can open it with a win - the Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente said.