The first clash of the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, on Friday 5 July, was fatal for the host country. Facing Spain in Stuttgart, Germany lost after extra time (2-1). La Furia Roja now awaits France or Portugal in the semi-finals.
Published on: 05/07/2024 – 20:38
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All the coaches in the world will be able to cite this Spain-Germany as a model of decisive coaching. Or how salvation can come from the substitutes’ bench. In this first match of the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, the essential players were not on the pitch right away, but just at the edge of the pitch, a bib on their back and ants in their legs waiting to be able to join in the battle.
Olmo ices the Stuttgart Arena
Dani Olmo did not have to wait long to make his entrance into the Iberian machine, which was quickly deprived of its pivotal player Pedri. Victim of a collision with Toni Kroos, the midfielder, in tears, had to give up his place in the 8th minute, a sprained left knee being suspected. Olmo, who is used to German pitches since he has been playing for RB Leipzig for four years, therefore replaced him.
After a choppy first half where the Spanish team showed more control than their opponents, the fate of this clash changed for the first time with an acceleration from Lamine Yamal, 16 years old and with fire in his legs. Found by his captain Alvaro Morata, the Barcelona player escaped before cutting back into the middle and finding Dani Olmo in the 16-yard box. Without control, the attacking midfielder took it impeccably with his right foot and beat Manuel Neuer (51st). In the Stuttgart Arena, a leaden blanket then fell on the German supporters.
Wirtz saves Germany in the last minutes
Faced with this bamboozle, Julian Nagelsmann changed his plans. Having already thrown Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich into the fray at the start of the second half, the Germany coach brought on Florian Wirtz and Maximilian Mittelstädt to turn the tide of the match. But for a long time, Spain kept their heads down without giving in, despite the repeated German assaults. Niclas Füllkrug, another substitute, saw his attempt pushed back by the post. Kai Havertz tried to lob the Roja goalkeeper, Unai Simon, who had come forward, but he misjudged his shot.
From despair to madness, there is sometimes only one step. Or one goal. The long-awaited deliverance finally came for the Nationalmannschaft. On a long cross from Mittelstädt, the ball arrived in the area on the head of Joshua Kimmich at the far post. The Bavarian’s header reached Florian Wirtz, whose half-volley crossed ended up in the back of the net with the help of the post (89th). A providential goal to allow the host country to come back level and take everyone into extra time.
Merino, the hero of Spain
It was after two 15 minutes of extra time that the decision was made, with one unfortunate player of course. And as is the case every time in the 21st century in knockout matches between Germany and Spain, it was Die Mannschaft who cried, the victim of a fatal stab from a… substitute of course. Well-placed to receive a cross from Olmo, Mikel Merino unleashed a winning header a few moments before the penalty shootout (120th). Germany’s last desperate attacks did not, this time, have a happy ending.
So it’s the end for Germany, who came out at the end of the suspense against a decidedly very tough Spain, which is coming out of this fight very tired. The Spanish will face, on July 9, the winner of the France-Portugal quarter-final. A spectacle to which the Germans are not invited and which they will have to follow on television.
