Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Spain2 - 1Germany

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 July 2024, 18:40
Germany have exited Euro 2024 owing to a heartbreaking 2-1 extra-time defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals.

After a feisty but goalless first period, Spain hit the front when a Lamine Yamal pass found teammate Dani Olmo, who produced a brilliant first-time finish to beat Manuel Neuer.

Aiming to keep their Euro 2024 dreams alive, the hosts pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages of the 90, and Germany got their rewards, with Florian Wirtz netting from close range to send the game to extra time.

It looked as if the fixture was heading towards dreaded penalty kicks until the final moments of extra time, when substitute Mikel Merino's header hit the net and sent the hosts of the competition packing.

La Roja have retained their 100% record at this tournament to date, and they will look to make it a sixth straight victory when they face either France or Portugal in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.

Following an impressive run in Euro 2024 up to this point, Die Mannschaft are the first hosts to be knocked out at the last-eight stage of a European Championships.

Magic Mikel sends Spain into the last four of Euro 2024

With the game stretched as penalty kicks approached, Marc Cucurella travelled up field with the ball and passed it out to goalscorer Olmo, who whipped an inswinging cross into the German box, where Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger would have been most onlookers' favourite to clear away the danger.

Instead, the delivery flew over the head of the centre-back, allowing Real Sociedad man Merino to rise highest and guide a headed effort past Manuel Neuer in Die Mannschaft's net, all but handing the victory to Luis de la Fuente's troops.

Germany force extra time thanks to Wirtz strike

Hurtling towards the title of becoming the first-ever host of a European Championship to be knocked out at the quarter-finals, Germany found parity in the contest late on to force the game into extra time.

Taking up a position on the left, Maximilian Mittelstadt swung a delivery into the box which was kept in play at the back post by Joshua Kimmich, and the ball found its way to Wirtz, who struck the ball into the far corner to deny La Roja a success within 90 minutes.

Spain substitute Olmo hands La Roja the lead

Dani Olmo would have be dreaming of having an impact in the match last night, but a first-half injury for Pedri meant that the 26-year-old's magical moment arrived nearly 50 minutes after the substitutes' bench.

Robert Andrich found Jamal Musiala on the right flank and the Bayern Munich sensation seemingly struck fear into the soul of David Raum, who allowed the 21-year-old to dribble into the German box.

Musiala slowed his run for a second before feeding a pass into the path of substitute Olmo, who timed his run perfectly between the German lines and produced a first-time finish into the bottom corner past the outstretched Neuer.

Spain star Pedri forced off after scrappy opening exchanges

With two great footballing sides going toe-to-toe in Stuttgart, not many inside the MHP Arena were expecting such a scrappy battle in the middle of the park between Spain and Germany during the first 10 minutes.

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos was guilty of two badly-time tackles on Pedri, who picked up a muscle injury as a result and was forced off the field of play.

The Barcelona prodigy will be hoping that his fitness issue is not too severe, with the 21-year-old suffering with a number of injury heartbreaks during the early stages of his career.

Is Kai Havertz the answer up front for Germany?

Heading into the final 10 minutes of the match, Die Mannschaft were pushing hard to keep their European Championship dreams alive, with an unbelievable chance falling at the feet of Kai Havertz.

Unai Simon's poor goal kick deflects off the Spanish backline and Havertz rushes through on goal and spots the goalkeeper off his line, however the Arsenal attacker's long-range chipped effort flew painfully over the bar, to the despair of those of a German persuasion.

Havertz was exceptional in many areas of his play in Stuttgart but was unable to provide the finishing touch on too many occasions to warrant a place at the top of his nation's forward line.

What's next for Germany and Spain?

Germany's search for a fourth European Championship crown has ended in dramatic fashion in Stuttgart, with Die Mannschaft now only having the start of the UEFA Nations League campaign to look forward to, with Nagelsmann's troops facing Hungary and the Netherlands in September.

On the contrary, Spain go marching on into the final-four stage of the competition as they seek to lift their fourth European title, with either France or Portugal to come in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.

Top News

23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Djed Spence has been named in the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their Premier League clash with Liverpool, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo get the nod up front for the visitors. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in a defeat that saw Ruben Amorim's side achieve an unwanted record. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim will allow Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United for the sake of 'himself and the club'. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola isn't immune from the sack at Manchester City having continued their unprecedented and dismal run of form. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window.