Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

One of the problems that Germany have is that Thomas Muller was not fast enough when Kimmich was trying to release him there. There's no real pace at the top of this German team.

Almost brilliant.

Pedri shows quick feet to buy a yard and his pass out wide is fired low towards Ferran Torres on the edge of the box. A heavy touch allows Germany to clear.

Just a little glimpse there of the talent and confidence in this Spain frontline.

Image source, EPA

Thomas Muller is on the charge, looking to get in behind the Spain defence but back goes Dani Carvajal to claim possession and clear.

Gavi is hacked down soon after. I fear he'll have to get used to that.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

It looks like Ilkay Gundogan is going to be the closest to Thomas Muller. It is going to be his job to get up there and support him.

That is what they were lacking in the first game.

Image source, Getty Images

The Spanish press is up and running quickly too.

Marco Asensio handballs, though, to ease the pressure on the German defence.

We'll all be mighty disappointed if it's not, Alan.

Spain are immediately on the ball, shifting it right to left and back again. Patient, precise.

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

I am looking forward to this. It should be a good one, shouldn't it?

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Germany need to go out today and make a massive statement. I don't think there's a bigger statement than beating Spain who won 7-0 in their opening game.

A win puts Spain firmly in charge of the group.

Thanks to Costa Rica, Germany don't have to win tonight. They really won't want to lose, though.

An already big game, made even bigger through the beautiful circumstances of World Cup group football.

Put your feet up and enjoy...

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester United goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Speaking about international football

It's so full of emotion. We all feel with our international teams, we all wish the best for them, it's the one thing that unites us in our countries. This brings us all together.

Don't think the German lads are under any misapprehension about the size of the task in front of them. There are some booming roars from them after their anthem.

It's business time.

Spain's players the epitome of focused for their anthem. Except for Dani Carvajal, who offers a cheeky little wink to camera.

Sam Merton
BBC Sport

This German fan’s shirt commemorates their triumph in 2014.

Repeating that looked a long way off against Japan in their opener but Costa Rica’s win today leaves things wide open for the Germans.

Image source, BBC Sport

Spain won their opening game of the 2022 World Cup against Costa Rica 7-0, their biggest ever win in the finals. On only three previous World Cup editions have Spain won both of their opening two matches: 1950, 2002 and 2006.

Spain’s win over Costa Rica last time out saw six different goalscorers, the most the nation have had in a single World Cup match. The youngest of those was Gavi, who at 18 years and 110 days old, was the third-youngest ever World Cup goalscorer, after only Manuel Rosas in 1930 (18y 93d) and Pele in 1958 (17y 239d).

In their win over Costa Rica, Spain recorded a possession figure of 81.9%, setting a new record since Opta have this data available in the World Cup (from 1966), surpassing Argentina’s 80.3% against Greece in 2010.

Germany have lost three of their last four World Cup games, as many as they had in their previous 21.

They've lost two in a row in the competition for just the third time (also in 1958 and 1982), and have never lost three consecutive World Cup games before.

Germany have lost their opening group stage game in both 2018 and 2022, having lost their first game in just one of their previous 18 appearances in the World Cup. They've never lost consecutive group stage games in the same edition of the competition before.

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender on BBC One

Gavi is a phenomenal player. What a talent he is. He can play off both feet. He is dynamic and he can score goals.

He is an integral member at 18.

He's definitely one to keep an eye on, he'll be integral to this side with his forward movements.

Germany have won just one of their last seven meetings with Spain in all competitions (D2 L4), winning 1-0 in a friendly match in November 2014.

This will be the fifth meeting between Spain and Germany at the World Cup, the joint-most that Spain have faced any side at the competition (also 5 vs Brazil).

They failed to win any of their first three against Germany (D1 L2) but won the most recent encounter 1-0 in the 2010 semi-final en route to lifting the trophy.

Germany haven’t beaten Spain in a competitive game since the 1988 European Championship.

These are their most recent competitive meetings...

Image source, Getty Images

Fernando Torres' goal gave Spain only their second ever major tournament victory courtesy of a 1-0 win over the Germans in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna.

Image source, Getty Images

Two years later, another 1-0 win saw Spain celebrate as they beat Germany in the semi-finals en route to winning the 2010 World Cup.

Carlos Puyol scored the only goal of the game.

Image source, Getty Images

The most recent competitive meetings between the two came in the 2020-21 Nations League.

Timo Werner gave Germany the lead in the game they hosted, but Jose Gaya's last-minute goal gave Spain a point.

Image source, Getty Images

Back on Spanish soil, Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick to help the home side to a 6-0 win!

Spain would ultimately lose the final to France.