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Spain1 - 0Germany

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 July 2024, 15:30

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Friday's mouthwatering Euro 2024 quarter-final between Spain and Germany at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.

Two of the tournament's most impressive teams go head-to-head for the right to face Portugal or France in the semi-finals, as Germany seek to avoid becoming the first host nation to lose a men's Euros quarter-final.

Julian Nagelsmann's men made light work of Denmark in the last 16 with a 2-0 success, while La Roja were equally - if not more - impressive in their 4-1 crushing of trailblazers Georgia in their opening knockout tie.

Make sure you do not miss a moment of the action courtesy of our minute-by-minute updates below.

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68 min

YELLOW CARD! It's happened! Kroos is finally in the book for bringing down Torres.

As things stand, that will be the final yellow card of his career.

67 min

Carvajal, take a bow.

Havertz and Fullkrug are two-on-two and the former sets away his Borussia Dortmund colleague, but Carvajal gets back to nip in and see the ball back to Simon.

65 min

Another Germany attack breaks down as Musiala is crowded out and clips Morata on his way down.

64 min

SHOT! The latest Kroos corner finds a leaping Fullkrug, but his backwards header sails harmlessly behind.

Germany upping the ante though.

63 min

SPAIN SUB

Nations League hat-trick hero Torres is on for Yamal, who is far from happy about coming off.

61 min

Germany have a corner after a Wirtz shot hits Cucurella's back and goes behind, but it comes to nothing; the Bayer Leverkusen man's cross misses everyone.

60 min

In fact, Yamal is now the first male teenager on record to set up three goals at a single World Cup or the Euros.

How he would love a goal, though.

59 min

A lovely finish from Olmo, and a third assist of the tournament for Yamal.

57 min

GERMANY SUBS

Gundogan and Raum come off for Mittelstadt and Niclas Fullkrug. Germany going for it.

57 min

YELLOW CARD! And that's another one out of the semi-finals. Andrich booked.

57 min

It has been like a basketball match since that Olmo opener. Great for the neutrals, not so much for the live bloggers...

No complaining, though. Gripping stuff.

55 min

Hard to keep up now!

Germany come again, but Rodri puts a foot in before the ball can drop for Gundogan to get a volley away.

54 min

CHANCE! Germany nearly hit back right away as Olmo's deflected cross drops into the corridor of uncertainty, but Nacho is well-positioned to momentarily clear the danger.

52 min

GOAL! Spain strike first, and it's that man Olmo again!

Morata drops deep to send Yamal away down the right, and the 16-year-old finds the run of Olmo, who sweeps a first-time finish into the far corner past Neuer.

Lift-off at last!

52 min

GOAL! SPAIN 1-0 GERMANY (OLMO)

50 min

A tangle of legs between Musiala and Carvajal and the decision goes Germany's way.

48 min

SHOT! Andrich now tries a first-time spectacular - not sure if it was a cross or a shot, but it went behind for a goal kick anyway.

47 min

SHOT! Morata goes agonisingly close!

Williams picks out Yamal with a lovely cross to the back post, and the Barcelona man finds Morata with his back to goal.

He's under pressure from Tah but manages to turn and shoot, albeit over the bar.

46 min

Wirtz wants a slice of the aggression and fouls Laporte after just 18 seconds.

46 min

KICKOFF: Spain get us started again.

6.04pm

GERMANY SUBS

Andrich and Wirtz join Nacho as second-half newbies. Leroy Sane and Can make way

6.03pm

SPAIN SUB

And Nacho Fernandez for Spain. Le Normand off after that yellow card.

6.02pm

Pink hair alert, Robert Andrich looks like he's coming on! Florian Wirtz as well.

6.01pm

There has already been one notable Spain victory today... at Wimbledon. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz beat Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller to reach the last 16.

5.55pm

With Rudiger and Le Normand both picking up suspension-inducing yellow cards, that's at least one manager missing a key centre-back for the semi-finals.

Would not be a surprise to see Raum stay on for the time being - Mittelstadt is another at risk of a ban.

5.52pm

There have been just four red cards at Euro 2024 so far - two for the Czech Republic, one each for Scotland and Slovenia - but one would not put it past Taylor to go for his back pocket if things continue in the same vein.

Challenges flying in left, right and centre. Will either manager take off a booked player at half time?

5.50pm

Just the 0.29 xG for Spain and 0.27 for Germany in the opening 45, where there were more fouls (15) than shots (13).

La Roja being restricted to efforts from range, though, and Neuer has been equal to all of them fired at him.

5.48pm

The half ends as it started, with a crunching tackle, as Cucurella scythes down Gundogan before Taylor blows the whistle.

Fair to say this one is yet to explode into life, unless scrappiness and frequent fouls are your definition of exploding into life...

Neither side in full flow, although Neuer has been the busier goalkeeper. Havertz's header may be the best chance so far, though.

My extra-time prediction still on...

5.47pm

HALF TIME: SPAIN 0-0 GERMANY

45 min

SHOT! Yamal turns Tah with ease and also has a pop from range, but it is too central to trouble Neuer.

Two minutes added on.

44 min

Williams is still seeing plenty of the ball and whips a cross in from the left, but it is far too high for a frustrated Olmo, and Yamal cannot keep it in.

42 min

Is it fair to say Neuer's handling is a little off today? That's a couple of times now he's not caught the ball cleanly at the first attempt.

Kroos gives away another foul for shoving Olmo over. Still no booking.

40 min

SHOT! Kimmich puts in a perfectly-timed tackle to stop Williams, but Spain win the ball back right away and Olmo has a crack from distance, which Neuer can only parry out.

Rudiger then does enough to put Morata off.

38 min

De la Fuente engaged in conversation with one of his lieutenants down on the sidelines.

This one is still on a knife-edge.

36 min

SAVE! Williams just runs offside before turning Rudiger and forcing Neuer into a reaction save at his near post.

35 min

SHOT! Havertz at the heart of it again!

The Arsenal man chests down a fantastic Rudiger ball over the top and fires a volley at goal, but Simon gets down to his right and saves.

34 min

CHANCE! A slick slide-rule pass from Havertz finds Kimmich, whose low cross is poor and straight into Simon's body, but he was well offside anyway.

34 min

Spain almost catch Germany unawares, but Tah does just enough to prevent Olmo from going one-on-one with Neuer.

32 min

To stop Yamal, you have to kick Yamal. At least that's what Emre Can thinks. He avoids further punishment, though.

30 min

YELLOW CARD! Speaking of any means necessary, Le Normand is now booked for fouling Gundogan, and he is another one to miss any potential semi-final.

30 min

Analysis from Sports Mole reporter Carter White:

Despite being heralded for his playmaking abilities at the base of the German midfield, Toni Kroos did his best Robin Andrich impression during the fiery opening exchanges of this match.

The Real Madrid star's rough challenges have forced Pedri off the pitch, and it is clear to see that Die Mannschaft are extremely wary of La Roja's running power, looking to stop the danger at source - often by any means necessary.

29 min

Germany do not exactly deal with Williams's delivery, but Olmo kicks Gundogan as he goes for a volley and the hosts win a free kick.

28 min

YELLOW CARD! David Raum now into the book for tripping Carvajal. Spain's turn to whip it into the mixer.

27 min

Germany corner as Laporte gets a vital flick to prevent a diagonal ball from reaching Rudiger...

A few bodies hit the floor and Simon eventually claims.

26 min

Kroos whips it in, and Tah rises highest, but he cannot leap high enough to get a decent connection and the ball rolls through to Simon.

25 min

Kimmich getting some joy down the right now and draws a foul from Morata.

Germany free kick in a promising area...

24 min

Either side of the 'keeper and this one goes in? We'll never know.

23 min

SHOT! Spain refuse to close down a charging Laporte, who takes the invitation to shoot, but Neuer gathers at the second attempt.

23 min

The hosts just showing a bit more attacking impetus now after Spain shaded a scrappy start.

Just as I type that, Yamal makes a nice sliding interception and Spain have the ball back.

21 min

SHOT! Germany work the ball out to Kimmich on the right, and his cross is on the money for Kai Havertz, who sends his header straight at Simon.

A chance.

19 min

Germany enjoy a bit of possession in the Spain half, but Laporte is well-positioned to cut out a Sane cross and also prevent a corner.

17 min

SHOT! Yamal finds Fabian Ruiz in acres of space inside the D, but he just delays his strike and sends it over the top.

16 min

End-to-end stuff now! This is what we came for.

A promising Germany move breaks down before Spain steam down the other end of the pitch, but an ambitious Morata strike hits a white shirt.

15 min

Or so I initially thought, goal kick given.

15 min

Olmo and Yamal over the free kick...

It is Lamal, and it is deflected behind.

14 min

YELLOW CARD! Talk about timing!

Rudiger sticks a leg out to stop Olmo in his tracks and is cautioned. That's him out of the semis (if Germany get there).

13 min

This was the tackle that forced a disconsolate Pedri off. Looking back, how Kroos did not get a booking is astounding.

There's no room for sentimentality in a Euros quarter-final Anthony Taylor!

12 min

SHOT! Williams tries his luck from distance, but not his finest. It trickles harmlessly wide.

11 min

Havertz holds the ball up well in the final third and finds Raum on the overlap, but his cross is straight into Unai Simon's arms.

9 min

SPAIN SUB

Confirmation of that change - Pedri is off and Olmo comes into the number 10 role.

8 min

Pedri has already had awful luck with injuries in his career, and he does not look comfortable here.

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