Spain v Germany LIVE: Result and reaction as Merino sinks Germany with 120th-minute winner
Spain 2-1 Germany (AET): Mikel Merino score late in extra-time to knock the hosts out of their own tournament
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Spain are the first team into the semi-finals at Euro 2024 after a drama filled quarter-final against Germany ended in thrilling fashion after going to extra-time.
A tetchy first half saw these two attacking teams stuttering and struggling to get going with the game repeatedly broken up by fouls and a lack of sharpness in the final third.
After the the break though, Spain went ahead with substitute Dani Olmo arriving in the box to turn home Lasine Yamal’s squared pass. That goal opened things up and Germany stressed for an equaliser. It came just before the end of the 90 as Florian Wirtz took a shot on the swivel to beat Unai Simon.
In extra-time there were few chances but a fine switch of play from Dani Carvajal set up Olmo to whip a cross into the middle. Mikel Merino met the ball with a fine header and beat Neuer at the near post. Carvajal was sent off a minute or so later but it did not matter as Spain secured their semi-final place.
Relive the action from Spain v Germany with our live blog below:
Spain v Germany
Spain’s Fabian Ruiz has been involved in five goals in his last four games in all competitions (three goals, two assists).
He has both scored and assisted in two of his three games at Euro 2024 so far – no player has ever done so in three different games at a single edition of the European Championship.
Spain v Germany
Germany have scored 10 goals across their four matches at Euro 2024, which is already their joint-most in a single edition of the European Championship.
Pre-match thoughts from Julian Nagelsmann
The Germany coach said: “It’s not a final, it’s a quarter-final. We want to be one of the teams in the semi-final.
“Spain want to be champions as well, so it’ll be a tough game. Both teams are good in possession, have good counter-pressing qualities and can put their opponents under pressure.”
Germany left with one regret before ‘the real Euro 2024 final’ against reinvented Spain
It is something that Julian Nagelsmann doesn’t even want to be mentioned around the German camp, but it’s now impossible not to consider.
Would the hosts have been better off had Niclas Fullkrug not scored that 92nd-minute equaliser against Switzerland in the final group game? Might that have been the moment on which the entire tournament turned?
A 1-0 defeat would have put Germany second in their group and on the more forgiving side of the draw, probably making them the biggest force there. It could have been a clear route to the semi-final.
Germany have one regret before ‘the real Euro 2024 final’ with Spain
Niclas Fullkrug’s goal against Switzerland has put the hosts on a collision course with La Roja, yet Julian Nagelsmann’s side retained an aura by avoiding defeat to set up what many believe is ‘the real final’
Spain v Germany
No host nation has ever been eliminated from the quarter-final stage of a European Championship, with all four previous host quarter-finalists (England in 1996, Netherlands in 2000, Portugal in 2004 and France in 2016) progressing.
Spain v Germany
This will be the fourth meeting between Spain and Germany at a European Championship, with Spain winning two (1984 and 2008) to Germany’s one (1988).
Their last such meeting was in the 2008 finalwith Spain winning 1-0 thanks to goal from Fernando Torres.
Pre-match thoughts from Luis de la Fuente
The Spain coach said: “It’s going to be an equal game. It could have been the Euros final and I think it’ll be an even game on a footballing level.
“Germany always start matches strongly, so obviously we’ll try and counter that. We’ll try and take the initiative and go all-out from the first minute.”
Spain v Germany team changes
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente keeps the same starting XI that lined up against Georgia in the last-16. Lamine Yamal keeps his place in the forward line with Alvaro Morata up top. Rodri anchors the midfield and Aymeric Laporte continues his centre-back partnership with Robin Le Normand.
For Germany there are two changes to the team that faced Denmark in the previous round. Jonathan Tah and Emre Can are brought into the team to replace Nico Schlotterbeck and Robert Andrich who both drop to the bench.
Yamal emulating Ronaldo
16-year-old winger Lamie Yamal has provided two assists for Spain so far becoming just the third teenager on record (since 1980) to provide multiple assists in the European Championship after Enzo Scifo (1984) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2004).
Nagelsmann on Yamal
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann was asked about Spain’s breakout star Lamine Yamal who he called a "talented" and "fun" player in his pre-match press conference.
Yamal looks likely to feature in tonight’s quarter-final against the tournament hosts but Nagelsmann questioned how the teenager will get on when the pressure increases.
He said: "Let’s see how he reacts when things get tough.
"You can’t defend him completely. You have to be prepared for different things. My focus is less on [Lamine] Yamal, more on Jamal [Musiala]. We can do something in attack ourselves."
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