Mikel Merino nodded dwelling a last-gasp purpose to propel Spain into the semi-finals and knock event hosts Germany out of Euro 2024.
Substitute Merino acquired on the top 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 closing sport 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 onerous accomplished to having created sufficient probabilities to have received 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 staff in an try to knock Spain out of their free-flowing rhythm. And that was definitely evident as Kroos crashed into Pedri twice contained in the opening seven minutes.
The Barcelona midfielder was harm 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 large, fellow winger Lamine Yamal fired a free-kick off beam and Fabian Ruiz shot over the bar when properly positioned.
Germany had been being overrun in midfield with Kroos struggling to regulate the tempo and the recalled Emre Can alongside him failing to make any affect.
It took the hosts 21 minutes to create an opportunity of observe, though it ought to have resulted within the opening purpose. Joshua Kimmich discovered area down the correct 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 accomplished higher 11 minutes earlier than the break. Having latched on to a protracted ball ahead, he didn’t 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 short respite for Germany as Olmo fired Spain forward from their subsequent assault. Spectacular 16-year-old Yamal was once more instrumental, discovering area on the correct 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 offers 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 nearly 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 good for Robert Andrich, whose shot introduced a sensible save from Simon.
Havertz threatened once more two minutes later with solely a superb block from Carvajal denying the previous Bayer Leverkusen man.
Spain’s defence was coming beneath actual strain for the primary time within the contest and Luis de la Fuente’s facet had an almighty scare after 76 minutes. Wirtz acquired the higher of Marc Cucurella down Germany’s proper and his low cross was turned onto the submit by Füllkrug beneath strain 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 dwelling by way of the left-hand submit.
FLORIAN WIRTZ SCORES FOR GERMANY! 🔥
The teenager equalises for the house nation within the 89th minute and so they’re again within the sport 🇩🇪#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 capturing inches large 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 together with his hand however Taylor and VAR Stuart Attwell dismissed their appeals.
Germany continued to look the extra probably facet to grab a late winner and Simon needed to make an amazing 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 one more golden alternative to take it to spot-kicks however he headed agonisingly large 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 suspension.
