The Mannschaft won this Saturday evening against Denmark (2-0) in the 8th finals of the Euro after a mixed first period.
In a match marked by a temporary interruption after violent storms, Germany finally overcame Denmark (2-0) in the 8th finals of the Euro. Encouraged by their fans, the Mannschaft pushed in the second half and scored two goals by Havertz from the penalty spot (53rd) and Musiala (68th).
For the first time since 2016, the Nationalmannschaft will play in the quarter-finals of a major tournament, against either Spain or Georgia on Sunday, July 5 in Stuttgart.
But before putting an end to a calamitous series of three tournaments interrupted from the group stage (World-2018 and 2022) or in the round of 16 (Euro-2021), Julian Nagelsmann’s players came very close to a new disappointment . If Havertz, from the penalty spot (53rd), and Musiala, taking advantage of a rare error from the impeccable Kasper Schmeichel (68th), wrote a new page of this new summer fairy tale, in reference to the “Sommermärchen” of World Cup 2006 which still makes Germany shudder, Joachim Andersen was the unfortunate hero.
The Danish defender initially thought he would give his team the advantage by propelling the ball poorly cleared by the German defense into Manuel Neuer’s goal (51st). After a long interruption to consult the VAR, the goal was finally invalidated for offside to the great relief of the German supporters, still in shock.
But Andersen’s bad scores were not over: on the next action, forty seconds later, he diverted a German cross with his hand and offered a penalty to the Nationalmannschaft, transformed into a corner by Havertz (52nd) .
Interruption de 25 minutes
Seven minutes later, the Arsenal attacking midfielder, left alone on the right flank, narrowly missed doubling the lead in the 59th minute. It was ultimately Musiala, on a solitary raid, who, taking advantage of Schmeichel’s hesitation, ensured the German victories and qualification. In addition to the opener denied to Andersen, Denmark shook the Westfalenstadion at the end of the first period when Rasmus Hojlund, launched by Thomas Delaney, appeared alone in front of Neuer. But the indestructible German goalkeeper intervened, as he saved his team by deflecting a shot from Hojlund (66th).
Germany could have avoided such a tense scenario if they had capitalised on their excellent first quarter of an hour in a one-sided manner. But the 2014 world champions came up against Schmeichel, who was excellent on a shot from Joshua Kimmisch (6th), alert on a lobbed header from Nico Schlotterbeck (7th) and decisive on a volley from Kay Harvetz (10th). It was not until the 21st minute that the Danes showed their face, first through Christian Eriksen (21st), then through Joakim Maehle whose shot grazed Manuel Neuer’s crossbar (24th).
After the German lightning and the Danish clearing, a violent storm hit Dortmund, forcing the referee to send both teams back to the locker rooms for twenty-five minutes. If the sky remained black and the thunder continued to rumble above Dortmund, for the Nationalmannschaft who dreams of a fourth European title on July 14 in Berlin, everything is looking good. At least until July 5.
