Germany vs Spain: A five-star game in Nations League

For the first time in 10 months, the longest break since the 1950s when a whole year passed, Spain are back in action.

A pandemic meant that Luis Enrique would have to wait for this tie in Stuttgart after he replaced Robert Moreno following a 5-0 win over Romania in November.

Much has been left behind, but Spain are now entirely focused on this tie with a European giant in a clash between the two teams who have won the most European Championships with three each.

Only Brazil have won more than the four World Cup titles Germany have won, with another one for Spain making it a five-star occasion.

Luis Enrique's return to begin a second era has big question marks from in goal through to the front line, having made it clear that he wasn't impressed as the team missed out on the finals of the Nations League when he left in March 2019.

"I don't believe in transitions," he said at the time.

Ramos and Busquets account for 57.6 percent of Spain's experience

Mikel Oyarzabal, Marco Asensio and Adama Traore have all withdrawn from the squad, at least for this first game, from Luis Enrique's initial selection.

Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres, with the former potentially able to become Spain's youngest ever goalscorer, have come into the side.

It's an example of an accelerated renewal process where the coach looks beyond age as the 22 players in the squad have just 496 caps, with 57.66 percent coming from Sergio Ramos (170) and Sergio Busquets (116).

Germany will not have many of the Bayern Munich stars who won the Champions League a fortnight ago and Joachim Low will take on this tie with their substitutes.

He will have Timo Werner's pace, Kai Havertz's quality and Leroy Sane's skill available, the latter not having played for his country since June 2019.

A new coach against a longstanding one

"My style is clear, you see it in my games, and you'll see it now," Luis Enrique said ahead of his return.

"We will never be spectacular, never, and we will continue that way, because I believe in it and it gives us results."

The Spain coach also showed his appreciation of Low's achievements over 14 years with Germany.

"Germany is a European power despite its renewal process, it's always one of the favourites in any competition," he said.

Low too had his take on Spain to make clear.

"Spain has changed coach, but never changed idea," he said.