Euro 2024: Spain knocks Germany out of Euro and reaches semi-finals

Until the last minute of extra time, Spain held its breath. La Roja finally qualified for the semi-finals of Euro 2024 by beating Germany (2-1) on Friday in Stuttgart, thanks to a goal from Merino in the 119th minute.

Below expectations in recent international competitions, the Germans have once again failed to reach the last four of a Euro or a World Cup, a level they have not reached since Euro 2016.

ALSO READ >> Follow the France-Portugal quarter-final live

The end of German hopes

Revived by Florian Wirtz’s equaliser in the final minutes of regulation time, after Dani Olmo’s opening goal, German hopes of winning a continental title at home were dashed by Mikel Merino.

Superbly served on a cross from Dani Olmo, the Real Sociedad midfielder crossed perfectly to beat Manuel Neuer.

Coming into play in the eighth minute of play in place of Pedri, who suffered a knee injury after a big foul by Kroos, Olmo brilliantly took over from the Barça playmaker.

After a first half in which the best chances were for Germany, the Leipzig midfielder took advantage of the lack of vigilance of the Mannschaft defence to calmly take a low cross from Lamine Yamal and open the scoring (52nd).

Merino has emerged

Having been imprecise for a long time in front of the frame, like a missed lob by Havertz (82nd), the Germans finally found the opening thanks to Wirtz, who came to perfectly take a deflection from Kimmich’s header (89th).

In extra time, the best chances fell to Jamal Musiala’s teammates. Wirtz came close to doubling the lead, but his shot from the edge of the area went wide (105+1′), before Unai Simon stretched to save a header from Füllkrug (117′). But as the penalty shootout loomed, Merino emerged to send the Germans out of their Euro.

Still undefeated since the start of the competition, La Roja will return to the semi-finals of a Euro, three years after its elimination by Italy at this stage of the competition. The Spanish will challenge France or Portugal on Tuesday, who will face each other in Hamburg on Friday evening (9:00 p.m.)