A late, late header from Mikel Merino sent Spain crashing through German hearts and into the Euro 2024 semifinals with a dramatic 2-1 victory. This pulsating quarter-final rematch of the 2008 final lived up to the billing, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions and a cruel twist for the host nation.
From the opening whistle, the tension was palpable. Spain nearly struck within a minute, but a low shot from Pedri was palmed away by Manuel Neuer. Chances flowed at both ends, with Kai Havertz posing the biggest threat for Germany, but Unai Simón in the Spanish goal stood firm.
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The deadlock was finally broken on 52 minutes. Lamine Yamal, a constant thorn in Germany’s side, played a decisive role, feeding Dani Olmo with a perfectly weighted pass. Olmo, with a touch of composure, slotted the ball past Neuer to send the Spanish fans into a frenzy.
Germany poured forward in the latter stages, desperately searching for an equalizer. Havertz had a golden opportunity, but his attempted lob over Simón sailed harmlessly over the bar. Just when hope seemed lost, Florian Wirtz emerged as Germany’s savior. In the dying seconds, he unleashed a thunderous volley into the far corner from Joshua Kimmich’s knockdown, sending the Stuttgart Arena into a state of euphoria and the game into extra time.
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Extra time was a tense affair, with both sides desperate to avoid the dreaded penalty shootout. Spain threatened through Mikel Oyarzabal, while Niclas Füllkrug came close for Germany, his header forcing a spectacular save from Simón.
With just over a minute remaining, it seemed penalties were inevitable. However, fate had other plans. Olmo whipped in a cross from the left, and substitute Mikel Merino, rising like a phoenix in the box, met the ball with a powerful header that nestled past a despairing Neuer.
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The final seconds were a chaotic blur. Germany, heartbroken but not defeated, pushed for another equalizer, but Füllkrug’s late header skewed wide. Dani Carvajal, booked earlier, received his marching orders for a second yellow card, adding further drama to the closing moments.
The final whistle blew, and Spain erupted. They had defied the odds, silencing the home crowd and securing their place in the last four. Germany, the 2024 hosts, were left to pick up the pieces, becoming the first host nation ever to be eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
