Germany midfielder No. 8 Toni Kroos (right) is embraced by Spain defender No. 2 Dani Carvajal after the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final match between Spain and Germany at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart on July 5, 2024. (Photo: AFP)
STUTTGART (Germany) (AFP) — Mikel Merino’s goal two minutes into extra time gave Spain a dramatic 2-1 win over Germany on Wednesday, sealing a place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals and realising their dream of a record-breaking fourth European Championship title.
After a hard-fought but goalless first half, Spain’s Dani Olmo latched on to a perfect pass from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal to put La Roja ahead in the 51st minute.
Niklas Fürkrug struck the post with 14 minutes remaining but with the home team on the brink of elimination, Florian Wirtz smashed in a pass from Joshua Kimmich in the 89th minute to send the game into extra time.
It looked like the game would go into a penalty shootout but Olmo crossed for Merino, who headed it in to give Spain the victory and a spot in the semi-finals against either France or Portugal.
“I’m totally dead. The adrenaline is kicking in. It was a special moment,” Merino, who scored the goal, said after the match.
“I’m really exhausted,” Olmo said, adding: “I’m proud of the fact that we have a great team and that we fought until the end.”
Germany’s defeat ended any hopes of the hosts achieving a dream Euros victory after a decade without success in a major tournament, and also brought the curtain down on Toni Kroos’ glittering career.
“We played a good tournament but it’s frustrating to lose like this after being so close,” Kroos told ARD.
This clash between the two most successful Euros nations, with three titles each, pitted an in-form Spain against Julian Nagelsmann’s resurgent hosts in what was quickly predicted to be a final.
Spain had named Kroos as Germany’s most dangerous player before the match, but the midfielder caused a huge, if unintentional, impact early on in an altercation with Pedri, who was replaced by Olmo with a leg injury.
Germany, who have the oldest team at Euro 2024, struggled to deal with Spain’s speed in the first half and were a little late in making tackles, but the hosts had the best two chances of the first half, both of which were converted by Kai Havertz.
The Arsenal forward headed a cross straight at Unai Simon early on, then fired a weak shot with only the keeper in the second half.
Nagelsmann replaced surprise starter Emre Can with pink-haired Robert Andric and brought on Wirtz for the ineffective Leroy Sane.
– Olmo’s attack –
But it was Olmo who stood out among the substitutes, cutting through a sleepy Germany defence and slotting Yamal’s pass perfectly over Manuel Neuer’s head into the bottom left corner to give Spain the lead six minutes into the second half.
The goal gave Germany momentum and made Wirtz especially dangerous.
The Bayer Leverkusen star linked up with Fuerkrug on the counter attack 15 minutes from time, but with the Spanish defence keeping a close watch, the striker could only hit the post.
With 10 minutes remaining, Nagelsmann made his final substitution, bringing on veteran Thomas Müller from the bench.
But it was Wirtz, 13 years younger, who made the difference, smashing Kimmich’s header across the grass and into the far post.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who came on for Nico Williams, curled a shot just wide of the post in the 104th minute, and Wirtz did the same from close range a minute later.
Germany pressed for a penalty late in extra time after Jamal Musiala’s shot hit Marc Cucurella’s hand, but the initial decision not to award a penalty was upheld after a VAR review.
A few minutes later, Olmo curled a cross into Merino, who jumped high to head the ball over Neuer and send Spain into the semi-finals.
Manager Luis de la Fuente will be forced to make some changes to his line-up for Tuesday’s semi-final after Dani Carvajal was sent off for bringing down Musiala, picking up his second yellow card of the match.
Centre-back Robin Le Normand and captain Alvaro Morata are also suspended for picking up yellow cards, with the Spain captain receiving a booking late in the game for celebrating after Merino’s winner.
