Spain snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over hosts Germany in extra time to book their place in the EURO 2024 semi-finals on Friday, July 5th, at the Stuttgart Arena.
In a match that was live on NBS Sport, Mikel Merino was the hero for La Roja, as the substitute powered home a header in the 119th minute to break German hearts and knock the record Euro champions out.
The two sides had previously met in the EURO 2008 final, which Spain had won 1-0, and their EURO 2024 encounter lived up to the hype as the two continental heavyweights went toe-to-toe in a pulsating match.
Going into the game, Germany and Spain had scored the most goals at EURO 2024, with 10 and 9 respectively. It would take a moment of sheer brilliance from either side to break down the other.
It was Spain who struck first, with substitute Dani Olmo, who had come on in the 8th minute to replace the injured Pedri, fired the two-time Euro champions into the lead in the 51st minute.
The RB Leipzig forward latched onto a perfectly-weighted pass from the impressive Lamine Yamal and coolly slotted the ball past Manuel Neuer to give Luis de la Fuente’s side the advantage.
Germany, roared on by a loud home crowd, pushed hard for an equaliser and were finally rewarded in the 89th minute.
Florian Wirtz, who had been a constant threat, fired home a low shot from the edge of the box to level the scores and send the home fans into ecstacy, and the game into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes were a tense and nervy affair, with both teams creating chances but failing to find the decisive goal.
Mikel Oyarzabal came closest for Spain, flashing a shot just wide, while Wirtz came close to scoring the winner for Germany, but was denied by the excellent Unai Simon in the Spain goal.
Just as penalties seemed inevitable, Spain struck the killer blow in the 119th minute. Substitute Mikel Merino rose highest to meet Dani Olmo’s inviting cross and power a header past the despairing Neuer, sparking wild celebrations among the Spanish contingent.
The drama was not over, however, as Germany pushed desperately for an equaliser in the dying moments.
Niclas Fullkrug headed narrowly wide, while Dani Carvajal was sent off for a second bookable offense as he brought down Jamal Musiala, a booking that will see him miss the semi-final.
However, Spain held on to secure a hard-fought victory and book their place in the semi-finals, where they will face France at the Munich Football Arena on Tuesday, July 9th.
It was heartbreak for the German players and fans, who had hoped to lift the trophy on home soil for a record fourth time, but they can be immensely proud of their efforts in pushing the 2008 and 2012 champions all the way.
For Spain, the victory was a testament to their resilience and quality, with Olmo, Yamal, Rodri, Cucurella and the ever-reliable Simon all delivering standout performances.
The introduction of Merino in the 80th minute proved to be the decisive moment, as the Osasuna midfielder’s late header sent La Roja through to the final four.
