Mikel Merino nodded residence a last-gasp aim to propel Spain into the semi-finals and knock event hosts Germany out of Euro 2024.
Substitute Merino received on the tip of Dani Olmo’s cross with 70 seconds of extra-time remaining to silence the gang in Stuttgart and deny Germany midfielder Toni Kroos a dream farewell on what turned out to be his remaining recreation earlier than retirement.
MIKEL MERINO HAS SURELY WON IT FOR SPAIN 🇪🇸
The midfielder makes it 2-1 with three minutes left on the clock 🔥#Euro2024 | #ESPGER pic.twitter.com/F0c7wGZx4U
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) July 5, 2024
Earlier, Olmo, who performs his membership soccer in Germany for RB Leipzig, had put Spain in entrance six minutes into the second half of regular time just for Florian Wirtz to grab a late equaliser for the hosts.
Germany will really feel arduous performed to having created sufficient probabilities to have gained it however Spain – who completed with 10 males following the late dismissal of Dani Carvajal – had the ultimate say to advance to a last-four conflict with both France or Portugal.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann hinted beforehand at a extra bodily method from his group in an try to knock Spain out of their free-flowing rhythm. And that was actually evident as Kroos crashed into Pedri twice contained in the opening seven minutes.
The Barcelona midfielder was damage by the primary problem – mystifyingly not deemed a reserving by referee Anthony Taylor – and needed to limp off to get replaced by Olmo.
Pedri had already come shut, firing a low shot at Manuel Neuer after simply 50 seconds as Spain bossed the early exchanges. Nico Williams shot extensive, fellow winger Lamine Yamal fired a free-kick off track and Fabian Ruiz shot over the bar when effectively positioned.
Germany have been being overrun in midfield with Kroos struggling to manage the tempo and the recalled Emre Can alongside him failing to make any influence.
It took the hosts 21 minutes to create an opportunity of notice, though it ought to have resulted within the opening aim. Joshua Kimmich discovered house down the appropriate and his cross was met by Kai Havertz however his header was weak and saved comfortably by Unai Simon.
Arsenal ahead Havertz ought to have once more performed higher 11 minutes earlier than the break. Having latched on to an extended ball ahead, he did not get adequate energy on his shot and it was a cushty save for Simon.
Spain upped the ante in the beginning of the second interval and must have taken the lead inside two minutes.
Yamal performed the ball into the toes of Alvaro Morata however, having rolled marker Jonathan Tah, the Atletico Madrid striker blasted over from eight yards when he appeared destined to attain.
It proved a quick respite for Germany as Olmo fired Spain forward from their subsequent assault. Spectacular 16-year-old Yamal was once more instrumental, discovering house on the appropriate earlier than rolling the ball throughout the sting of the penalty space the place Olmo met it with a crisp shot previous Neuer’s despairing dive.
Dani Olmo provides Spain the lead! 🇪🇸
And it’s one other help for starboy Lamine Yamal… 💫#Euro2024 | #ESPGER pic.twitter.com/ThFR1cqtXx
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) July 5, 2024
Nagelsmann reacted by bringing on a recognised quantity 9 in Niclas Füllkrug as Germany adopted a extra direct method. It virtually reaped its reward after 69 minutes when a cross from Maximilian Mittelstadt led to Havertz heading it again for Fullkrug and his lay off was excellent for Robert Andrich, whose shot introduced a sensible save from Simon.
Havertz threatened once more two minutes later with solely an excellent block from Carvajal denying the previous Bayer Leverkusen man.
Spain’s defence was coming underneath actual stress for the primary time within the contest and Luis de la Fuente’s facet had an almighty scare after 76 minutes. Wirtz received the higher of Marc Cucurella down Germany’s proper and his low cross was turned onto the put up by Füllkrug underneath stress from Nacho.
Germany got here inside inches of an equaliser as soon as once more with eight minutes to go – a poor goalkick from Simon was latched on to by Havertz however he couldn’t discover the online with a chip over the goalkeeper who had raced from his line to make amends.
It was, due to this fact, no shock when the equaliser did come within the 89th-minute. Mittelstadt tossed the ball in from the left and Kimmich nodded it again for Wirtz to comb residence by way of the left-hand put up.
FLORIAN WIRTZ SCORES FOR GERMANY! 🔥
The teenager equalises for the house nation within the 89th minute and so they’re again within the recreation 🇩🇪#Euro2024 | #ESPGER pic.twitter.com/zZYS7sxEZl
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) July 5, 2024
The primary interval of extra-time got here and went with one probability apiece, Mikel Oyarzabal taking pictures inches extensive at one finish shortly earlier than Wirtz did likewise on the different.
Germany thought they need to have had a penalty when Cucurella blocked Musiala’s shot along with his hand however Taylor and VAR Stuart Attwell dismissed their appeals.
Germany continued to look the extra possible facet to grab a late winner and Simon needed to make an ideal save to maintain out Füllkrug’s glancing header with three minutes to go.
However then got here Merino’s intervention, created by the sensible Olmo.
Füllkrug had yet another golden alternative to take it to spot-kicks however he headed agonisingly extensive of the right-hand upright.
Carvajal was proven a second yellow card and the next purple within the dying seconds to hitch Robin Le Normand in lacking the semi by way of suspension.
