7/05/24
Quarter Final
Spain 2 vs. Germany 1 (aet)

Merino is Spain’s Special One

Matt Jones, 25 min ago
Mikel Merino’s last-gasp strike earned Spain a dramatic 2-1 victory over UEFA Euro 2024 hosts Germany, as they took a step closer to winning a record fourth European Championship.

This re-run of the 2008 final was hugely anticipated, and La Roja - champions 16 years ago - nearly broke the deadlock within 60 seconds as Pedri saw a low shot from the edge of the area saved. Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal and Fabián Ruiz then failed to hit the target with efforts from distance, while Kai Havertz could not beat Unai Simón with a close-range header at the other end.

The striker posed the biggest goal threat for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, and he soon tested the goalkeeper again, although he was left disappointed with a tame finish after superbly bringing down a long ball. It was Spain who finished the half strongest though, with Dani Olmo and Yamal both denied by Manuel Neuer, who ensured the opening 45 minutes ended all square.

Luis de la Fuente’s side continued to impress after the break, and Álvaro Morata should have done better when ballooning over the bar from close range. That chance was created by Lamal, and he played a pivotal role as the deadlock was finally broken on 52 minutes, beating his man and sliding a low ball towards Olmo, who guided a low finish into the bottom corner from a central position.

Germany were dominant in the latter stages, and should have equalised when Havertz burst onto a loose ball from Simón’s goal kick, but as the ‘keeper rushed off his line to salvage the situation, the striker sent his lob over the bar. They looked to be heading out, until Florian Wirtz brilliantly fired into the far corner from Joshua Kimmich’s knockdown in the dying seconds.

That sent the game into extra-time, which was unsurprisingly tense given the prize, a semi-final against either Portugal or France, that was at stake. Mikel Oyarzabal flashed one terrific shot narrowly wide for Spain, and Wirtz clipped off target at the other end. After the interval, the hosts were left baffled when a penalty check for a handball against Marc Cucurella went unpunished, while Niclas Füllkrug was unlucky with a clipped header that Simón superbly tipped around the post.

Penalties looked a near certainty, until, with just 90 seconds of extra-time remaining, Olmo clipped an inviting cross towards the penalty spot, and substitute Merino duly nodded past Neuer. That sent Spain into the last four for the fourth time in five tournaments, although there was still time for some drama as Füllkrug headed wide in injury time, before Dani Carvajal received his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Germany could not find an equaliser though and become the first ever host nation to lose a European Championship quarter-final.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Dani Olmo (Spain)

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7/05/24
Quarter Final
Portugal 0 (3) vs. France 0 (5) (pens)

France claw through as Felix slips up

Ben Sully, 1 h ago
France will make their fifth semi-final appearance at the UEFA European Championships after they held their nerve in a penalty shootout to oust Portugal in a nail-biting affair in Hamburg.

Buoyed from his heroics in Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia, goalkeeper Diogo Costa was required to make a routine stop in the 20th minute to keep out Théo Hernández’s long-range dive. Despite experiencing a momentary scare, Portugal were arguably the better side in a cagey first half, even if their periods of possession failed to translate to clearcut opportunities. They were given a promising sight of a goal in the 43rd minute when Cristiano Ronaldo placed a free-kick, only to allow Bruno Fernandes to try his luck with a whipped strike which failed to hit the target.

After struggling to get involved in the first period, Kylian Mbappe finally burst into life in the opening stages of the second half, exchanging a neat one-two with N'Golo Kanté before curling the ball into Costa’s grateful clutches. As the clock reached the hour mark, the game threatened to open up as Portugal created two golden chances in quick succession. First, Fernandes was denied by Mike Maignan’s strong right hand just moments before Vitinha fired straight at the goalkeeper after being teed up by Rafael Leão.

From nearly falling behind it was then France’s turn to spurn two major opportunities. Randal Kolo Muani looked set to break the deadlock until Rúben Dias produced a superb last-ditch block to deny the forward. Eduardo Camavinga then had the chance to score just his second international goal, but he could only drag his right-foot shot wide of Costa’s far post. Ultimately, a lack of cutting edge from both sides ensured Portugal would have to face extra time for the second game in a row. After missing a spot-kick in extra-time against Slovenia, Ronaldo had the chance to put that disappointment completely to bed when he made a darting run to meet Francisco Conceição’s pullback, only to blaze harmlessly over the bar.

In a surprising moment, France’s star man Mbappe made way for Bradley Barcola halfway through the additional 30 minutes. Mbappe could only watch from the sidelines as Portugal threatened to win it in the 120th minute, with Nuno Mendes forcing Maignan to make a crucial stop to ensure Les Bleus would compete in their first penalty shootout since the 2022 World Cup final. While João Félix hit the post, France dispatched all five of their spot-kicks to set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash with Spain.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Mike Maignan (France)

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