EURO 2024 STUTTGART, Germany – Spain and its fans celebrated as if they had already clinched the Euro Cup. After a gripping quarterfinal victory over Germany, the Spanish team now stands on the brink of lifting the trophy in Berlin.
EURO 2024 Thrilling Victory Sealed by Merino’s Heroics
On Friday, Spain secured a dramatic 2-1 win thanks to Mikel Merino’s crucial goal in the 119th minute. Merino’s celebration, running around the corner flag, was a nostalgic nod to his father Miguel Merino, who scored at the same stadium back in 1991.
Merino reflected on the moment, saying, “I knew there was very little time left and it was one of our last attacks. I couldn’t believe it had come.”
He added, “I’m thrilled. It was a spur-of-the-moment goal, but there’s a lot of hard work, training, and belief behind it.” Extra time was forced when Florian Wirtz equalized for Germany in the last minute of regular play.
EURO 2024 Impactful Substitutions and Key Moments
Dani Olmo, who set up Merino’s goal, had earlier opened the scoring early in the second half. Notably, all three goals in the match were scored by substitute players, showcasing the depth and tactical prowess of both teams.
Spain’s defense faced challenges too. Defender Dani Carvajal received a second yellow card in extra time, ruling him out of the upcoming semifinal against France. Fellow defender Robin Le Normand will also miss the next match due to an earlier booking.
In another thrilling match, France defeated Portugal 5-3 in a penalty shootout, setting up a highly anticipated clash with Spain.
EURO 2024 A Historic Achievement and German Disappointment
For the first time, Spain managed to eliminate the hosts of a major tournament, marking a significant milestone in their Euro campaign. German players were left dejected, with coach Julian Nagelsmann visibly saddened by the outcome.
“We were so close, that’s what makes it so bittersweet,” said Germany midfielder Toni Kroos after what might be his final international match. He continued, “We had a big dream that we wanted to fulfill. But now that dream is shattered.” Kroos’ teammates, captain Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller, and Manuel Neuer, may also have played their last international matches.
Nagelsmann, trying to lighten the mood, joked, “It’s sad that we have to wait two years to become world champions.”
EURO 2024 A High-Octane Battle from Start to Finish
The quarterfinals brought together the three-time Euro champions against some of the best teams at Euro 2024. The match was intense and fast-paced right from the start. Toni Kroos was fortunate to escape a booking for an early challenge on Pedri, who was later substituted due to injury. Dani Olmo replaced Pedri in the eighth minute, marking the fastest substitution in Euro history.
“Pedri is in pain. He should have received a red card,” remarked Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente. He mentioned that it was too early to determine if Pedri would recover in time for the next match.
From a free kick, young Lamine Yamal had a chance to become the youngest goalscorer in Euro history, but his shot narrowly missed the right post. Yamal played a significant role in Spain’s opening goal, cutting inside from the right and assisting Olmo, who scored with precision in the bottom left corner. This marked Yamal’s third assist of the tournament, the highest by a teenager.
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EURO 2024 Late Drama and Merino’s Decisive Strike
Germany’s late offensive efforts saw Nico Fulkrug hitting the post, eventually leading to a crucial equalizer. Joshua Kimmich set up Florian Wirtz with a well-placed header, and Wirtz’s shot found the back of the net.
Both teams had opportunities to clinch victory in extra time. Germany felt aggrieved when the referee did not award a penalty for a handball. Nagelsmann voiced his frustration, suggesting that penalties should be awarded if a shot is on target.
As the prospect of a penalty shootout loomed, Merino delivered the decisive blow by heading in Olmo’s cross, sparking wild celebrations among Spanish fans.
Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon shared his relief, “When you’re on 105 minutes, it’s hard to think about penalties. And as the minutes went by, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about it. Mikel saved us.”
Conclusion
Spain’s dramatic victory over Germany has set the stage for an exciting semifinal showdown against France. With the possibility of lifting the Euro 2024 trophy in sight, the Spanish team will be hoping to continue their winning streak and achieve glory in Berlin.