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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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 line-up
Spain XI: Unai Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
Germany line-up
Germany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Raum; Kroos, Can; Sane, Gundogan, Musiala; Havertz
Can one overhead kick really change a tournament? Here’s what England think
Over the last few days, the England players have felt a “shift” in training. There’s even been a lightness to some of the heavier work. Many of the squad felt the benefit of proper time with the family on Tuesday. Part of that is down to the breathing space that comes from a bit of a break, but most of it is from the release of Jude Bellingham’s goal against Slovakia.
The line all week has been that this is a “turning point”, even coming up repeatedly in team meetings. Gareth Southgate himself set that idea in the euphoria after the Slovakia game, openly talking about how it could be similar to Paul Gascoigne’s goal against Scotland at Euro ‘96. One of his “leadership group”, John Stones, was only too willing to take up the thread.
Can one moment really change a tournament? Here’s what England think
Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute bicycle kick saved England from embarrassment in the last 16, as they went on to beat Slovakia in extra time
Gareth Southgate warns England will go ‘to the depths again’ to beat Switzerland
Gareth Southgate says England have to be “ready to go right to the depths again” in Saturday’s crunch European Championship quarter-final against Switzerland.
The eyes of the nation will be focused on Dusseldorf as the Euro 2020 runners-up continue their quest to go one better by taking on the side 19th in FIFA’s world rankings.
England are fifth in those standings but have yet to show those standards in Germany, where they topped Group C in unconvincing fashion before narrowly avoiding humiliation last weekend.
Gareth Southgate warns England will go ‘to the depths again’ to beat Switzerland
England’s performances at Euro 2024 so far have faced criticism but they take on the Swiss in a quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Turkey defender Merih Demiral handed Euro 2024 ban over ‘Grey Wolves’ gesture
Turkey defender Merih Demiral has been banned for two games by Uefa following a gesture he made during his side’s last-16 win against Austria on Tuesday and will miss Saturday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Netherlands.
The 26-year-old centre back scored twice in a 2-1 win over the Austrians to send his side into the last eight for the first time since 2008, and celebrated by making a “wolf” gesture with his fingers.
Turkey defender Merih Demiral handed Euro 2024 ban over ‘Grey Wolves’ gesture
Turkey meet the Netherlands in their quarter-final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Saturday
Jude Bellingham fined by Uefa and handed suspended ban for gesture which broke ‘decent conduct’
Uefa have charged Jude Bellingham with “violating the basic rules of decent conduct”, but the player will not face an immediate ban.
England midfielder Bellingham was facing a ban after Uefa opened an investigation into a gesture he made while celebrating his spectacular overhead kick against Slovakia in the last-16 tie last Sunday.
In the aftermath of his goal, Bellingham was seen shouting “Who else?!” as he ran over to England fans after scoring. The Video showed the Real Madrid forward then kiss his hand and grab his crotch in a gesture which appeared to be directed towards the side of the pitch.
Bellingham fined by Uefa and handed suspended ban for gesture
Uefa have issued their verdict on Jude Bellingham’s celebration during the win over Slovakia
Spain v Germany - Euro 2024
Here’s a look at how the two nations compare from a statistical standpoint, after four matches apiece at Euro 2024, with Spain’s score first and Germany’s second:
Goals per game - (ESP) 2.3 - 2.5 (GER)
Average possession - 59.5% - 65.8%
Big chances created - 17 - 12
Expected goals - 8.9 - 7.7
Actual goals - 9 - 10
Shot conversion rate - 11% - 13.9%
xG conceded - 3.3 - 3.0
Actual conceded - 1 - 2
Euro 2024 power rankings: Rating all eight nations ahead of the quarter-finals
Euro 2024 is heading to the quarter-finals after an entertaining start to the knockout rounds saw eight more nations exit the tournament.
Spain were the only team to collect the maximum nine points in the group phase and they continued their impressive form with a 4-1 win over Georgia. Switzerland and Germany both progressed to the quarter-finals with 2-0 wins, but it was much harder work for France, England and Portugal who respectively required a late own goal, a very late equaliser/extra-time winner and a penalty shootout to go through.
Here, we assess how every Euro 2024 nation stacks up before the quarter-finals (these rankings are revised after each round of games).
Euro 2024 power rankings: Rating all eight nations ahead of the quarter-finals
Germany and Spain remain the teams to beat while faltering England tumble down the rankings
Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024
Exactly one year ago Lamine Yamal was playing in the quarter-finals of the U17 European Championships in front of only a few hundred supporters. Skipping past defenders for fun, he registered an assist and scored once in Spain’s 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.
At just 15 years old, he was one of the youngest players competing in the U17 competition at the time. Yet he already stood out among his peers, finishing as the joint top-scorer of the tournament – despite Spain crashing out to France in the semi-final.
Fast forward a year, he’s now the youngest player competing at Euro 2024, with his boyish smile revealing braces, his joyful approach to the game providing a captivating subplot to Friday’s European Championship quarter-final with hosts Germany. To say it has been a whirlwind 12 months for the Barcelona winger would be an understatement.
Our feature piece on the Spanish starlet, for Premium subscribers:
Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024
Lamine Yamal has starred in Spain’s run at Euro 2024, and Bence Bocsak has witnessed the Barcelona wonderkid’s rise through the Spanish youth teams to this summer’s tournament in Germany
Euro 2024 draw
The winner of this one will meet either Portugal or France in the semi-finals for another mouth-watering tie.
Here’s a closer look at the draw:
Euro 2024 quarter-finals: Fixtures, schedule and kick-off times
Every knockout match being played in Germany as we move closer to crowning the winner of the Euros
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments