Mikel Merino called for Euro 2024 Euro 2024, Mikel Merino.
Substitute Merino got on the end of Dani Olmo’s through ball 70 seconds into added time to silence the Stuttgart crowd and deny Germany midfielder Toni Kroos a dream farewell in what turned out to be his last game before retirement.
MIKEL MERINO REALLY WON IN SPAIN 🇪🇸
The midfielder makes it 2-1 with three minutes left on the clock 🔥#Euro2024 | #ESPER pic.twitter.com/F0c7wGZx4U
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 5, 2024
Earlier, Olmo, who plays for his club RB Leipzig in Germany, put Spain ahead six minutes into the second half of normal time only for Florian Wirtz to grab an equalizer for the home side.
Germany will find it difficult to create enough chances to win but Spain – who finished with 10 men following Dani Carvajal’s late dismissal – have the final say on whether to progress to the last four against either France or Portugal.
Germany coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has previously commented on how he will work his team in an attempt to get Spain out of their running rhythm. And that certainly showed as Kroos hit Pedri twice within the opening seven minutes.
The Barcelona midfielder was injured in the first challenge – ironically not deemed a booking by referee Anthony Taylor – and had to limp off for Olmo.
Pedri went close, firing past Manuel Neuer after 50 seconds as Spain dominated the first leg. Nico Williams shot wide, teammate Lamine Yamal fired a free-kick and Fabian Ruiz fired over the bar from a well-placed finish.
Germany was defeated in midfield with Kroos struggling to control the tempo and Emre Can who was brought back to his side unable to do anything.
It took the hosts 21 minutes to create an opportunity to comment, although it should have resulted in the first goal. Joshua Kimmich found space down the right and his cross was met by Kai Havertz but his header was comfortably saved by Unai Simon.
Arsenal striker Havertz should have done better 11 minutes before the break. After latching on to a long ball forward, he failed to get enough power into his shot and it was a comfortable save from Simon.
Spain upped the ante early in the second half and should have taken the lead within two minutes.
Yamal played the ball into Alvaro Morata’s feet but, after rounding Jonathan Tah’s marker, the Atletico Madrid forward blasted over from eight yards when he looked set to score.
It proved a brief respite for Germany as Olmo fired Spain ahead of their next attack. The impressive 16-year-old Yamal was also involved, finding space on the right before curling the ball into the edge of the penalty area where Olmo met with an agonizing shot past Neuer’s desperate diving.
Dani Olmo gives Spain the lead! 🇪🇸
And another helping of star Lamine Yamal… 💫#Euro2024 | #ESPER pic.twitter.com/ThFR1cqtXx
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 5, 2024
Nagelsmann responded by bringing on a familiar number nine in Niclas Füllkrug as Germany adopted a more direct approach. It almost reaped its reward after 69 minutes when Maximilian Mittelstadt’s cross led to Havertz who turned it back to Fullkrug and his clearance was good for Robert Andrich, whose shot was saved by Simon.
Havertz threatened again two minutes later with only a smart block from Carvajal denying the former Bayer Leverkusen man.
Spain’s defense was under real pressure for the first time in the tournament and Luis de la Fuente’s side had a real scare after 76 minutes. Wirtz got the best of Marc Cucurella down the German right and his low ball was put on goal by Füllkrug under pressure from Nacho.
Germany got an equalizer with eight minutes to go – Simon’s poor goal was met by Havertz but he didn’t get a point over the keeper who was running from his line to make the save.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the equalizer comes in the 89th minute. Mittelstadt flicked the ball to the left and Kimmich headed it back for Wirtz to sweep home at the left post.
FLORIAN WIRTZ OUT OF GERMANY! 🔥
The youngster equalizes for the home nation in the 89th minute and they are back in the game 🇩🇪#Euro2024 | #ESPER pic.twitter.com/zZYS7sxEZl
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 5, 2024
The first half of extra time came and went with one chance, Mikel Oyarzabal firing inches wide at one point just before Wirtz did the same at the other.
Germany thought they should have had a penalty when Cucurella blocked Musiala’s shot with his hand but Taylor and VAR Stuart Attwell dismissed their appeals.
Germany continued to look the more likely side to grab a late winner and Simon had to do well to keep out Füllkrug’s penalty header with three minutes remaining.
But then came Merino’s intervention, created by the brilliant Olmo.
Füllkrug had one golden opportunity to take it to the kick but it went hard to a straight right hand.
Carvajal was given a second yellow card and a red in the dying seconds to join Robin Le Normand in missing the semi due to suspension.
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