World News Merino breaks Germany as Spain show hosts the exit door Blog

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Substitute Mikel Merino headed Spain into the semi-finals of the European Championship as the team beat Germany 2-1 in extra time in Stuttgart.

Florian Wirtz’s equaliser in the last minute of regular time forced the thrilling quarter-final into extra time after Dani Olmo, who had assisted Merino’s winning goal in the 119th minute, had scored the first goal early in the second half.

“This was the game we expected,” said Merino, “because we were facing one of the best teams in the world. This could have been a final, and that’s what it was. This was a game between elite teams, a constant back and forth, and we showed that we have a great team.”

Spain defender Dani Carvajal was sent off in extra time for a second yellow card and is suspended for Tuesday’s semi-final against Portugal or France. Fellow defender Robin le Normand will also miss that game after receiving another booking.

This result ended the career of German Toni Kroos, who announced his retirement at the end of the tournament.

The quarter-finals saw the teams that played the best football at Euro 2024 meet, and it was no disappointment. From the start, the pace was fast-paced with crisp tackles and neck-and-neck racing.

Kroos was lucky not to receive a yellow card for a foul that sent Spanish midfielder Pedri off the pitch. Another violent foul moments later resulted in Pedri leaving the field injured and crying, and was replaced by Olmo in the eighth minute, the quickest substitution in European Championship history.

The resulting free kick almost made Lamine Yamal the youngest goalscorer of the tournament, but the 16-year-old’s attempt flew past the right post.

Yamal was actually involved in the opener, cutting inside from the right and rolling the ball across to Olmo, who fired it straight into the bottom left corner. It was Yamal’s third assist of the tournament, the most by a teenager at a European Championship.

Substitute Nico Füllkrug only hit the post in a desperate attack by the German national team shortly before the end and was rewarded at the last moment.

Joshua Kimmich headed Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross back to Wirtz, whose shot bounced past the far post and into the goal.

Both teams had further chances to win in extra time before Merino leapt up to head in Olmo’s cross, sending the Spanish fans behind the goal into ecstasy.

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