Spain have broken the hearts of hosts Germany at the quarter-final stage during Euro 2024 to reach semi-finals in the tournament.
Mikel Merino headed home a thrilling winner in the final minute of extra time to seal a 2-1 victory and break German hearts.
Mikel Merino scored in the 119th minute to help Spain beat Germany 2-1 in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal at the Stuttgart Arena on Friday.
Spain took the lead in the 51st minute through substitute Dani Olmo, who placed the ball into the bottom left corner with a first-time finish from the edge of the penalty box, after running onto a pass from Lamine Yamal.
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Dani Olmo’s second-half strike opened the scoring between the two European giants in the second-half, latching onto a wonderful cross from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal to calmly slot past Manuel Neue.
Florian Wirtz equalised in the 89th minute for Germany to force the game into extra-time. With penalties looming, Merino rose to head home a superb header to send his nation into the final four.
La Roja remain unbeaten in the competition, marching into the semi-finals where they will take on the winners of France vs Portugal on Tuesday.
But Germany’s bid win a fourth European Championship on home soil has come to a dramatic end, becoming the first competition hosts to crash out at the quarter-final stage.
It also marks the end of the magnificent career of Toni Kroos with the German midfielder retiring this summer.
After Olmo’s opener, Germany piled on the pressure looking for an equaliser with substitute Niclas Fullkrug denied by the post after an instinctive effort on goal from close range.
With 10 minutes left, Kai Havertz opted to try and chip Unai Simon after the Spain goalkeeper’s clearance fell into the Arsenal star’s path.
Havertz – and every German tuning in – watched on in agony as he scooped his effort over the bar.
In the final minute of the 90, Wirtz, the Bundesliga player of the year, was on hand to drill in the bottom corner after Joshua Kimmich’s header on with his effort clipping the inside of the post before finding the back of the net.
Germany pushed for a winner in extra time but it was Spain who produced the final moment of magic.
