EURO 2024: Merino nets late header as Spain eliminate hosts Germany
Mikel Merino’s extra-time goal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Spain over Germany in an exciting quarterfinal match on Friday, featuring the two most decorated European Championship teams.
With the victory, Spain remains unbeaten in five games and advances to the semifinals.
As the game neared a penalty shootout in the 119th minute, substitute Merino leaped to head in the decisive goal from Dani Olmo’s cross, crushing the hopes of the majority of the Stuttgart Arena crowd.
After a goalless first half, Olmo opened the scoring for Spain six minutes into the second half with a precise first-time shot into the bottom corner.
Germany managed to force extra time with Florian Wirtz’s 89th-minute goal.
The hosts, Germany, applied intense pressure for a late equalizer, but Spain held firm to progress to the semifinals, where they will face either Portugal or France, who play later on Friday.
For the Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash against Portugal in Hamburg, France made two changes: Randal Kolo Muani and Eduardo Camavinga were introduced into the starting lineup.
Kolo Muani of Paris Saint-Germain earned his first start of the tournament, replacing Marcus Thuram, after coming off the bench to force the own goal that secured France’s 1-0 victory over Belgium in the previous round.
Real Madrid’s Camavinga took the place of Adrien Rabiot, who was suspended for one game after receiving his second booking of the tournament in the last 16.
Portugal’s lineup remained the same as in their penalty shootout win over Slovenia in the last-16, with captain Cristiano Ronaldo continuing to play despite not yet scoring in Germany.
The winner of Friday’s encounter will move on to a semifinal match in Munich next Tuesday.
