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Last-gasp Spain goal dumps hosts Germany out of Euro 2024 and into desolation

rob bagchi
·37 min read
Germany's Niclas Fullkrug sits on the ground as his team-mates look dejected at the final whistle
Germany were left shattered at the final whistle - AP/Ariel Schalit

From delirium to desolation. Seldom can a host nation have endured a more shattering comedown. With almost the final act of extra time, and with Germany already mentally preparing for the penalties that that they have turned into a national artform, Spain struck with the cruellest blow, Mikel Merino rising highest to head Dani Olmo’s cross past Manuel Neuer and plunge the Stuttgart Arena into the ghostliest silence. The Germans knew they confronted an arduous test to subdue a Spain side overflowing with talent, but never did they realise the ending would be as brutal as this.

In the ultimate blood-and-thunder contest, featuring a frankly staggering 17 yellow cards – three more than even the notorious 2010 World Cup final – it was Germany who received a late blow to the solar plexus. Just when you sensed a fervour building in the stadium for the shoot-out, Spain played the saboteurs to perfection, Merino rounding off a length-of-the-field move with an emphatic aerial flourish. Just when Julian Nagelsmann’s team believed they had the momentum, courtesy of Florian Wirtz’s 89th-minute equaliser, all hope was lost.


Toni Kroos was incredulous, staring into the middle distance in horror. This was his last ever competitive game, and not the goodbye he had sought on home soil. The Real Madrid playmaker might have won six Champions League winner’s medals, but he conveyed the air of someone who would have traded them all for a happier conclusion than this. Nagelsmann’s team have rekindled faith in Die Mannschaft, with this campaign a stirring counterpoint to the bleak group-stage exits at two World Cups, and yet they dared to aspire to so much more.

Amid the anguish, there was zero inquest. The vast majority of fans here were convinced that Nagelsmann, even after failing to capitalise on a chance that could take decades to come again, had helped Germany to turn a corner. Struggling to hold back tears, the 36-year-old, unfeasibly young for an international manager, reflected: “It hurts. I’ll probably never experience a home tournament again in my career. But we have created a great symbiosis with the people.”

Mikel Merino celebrates after scoring the goal that eliminated Germany
Mikel Merino celebrates after scoring the goal that eliminated Germany - AP/Manu Fernandez
Toni Kroos of Germany looks dejected
Toni Kroos is distraught - Getty Images/Richard Sellers

It was eerily reminiscent of the teary scenes that had engulfed Germany at the climax of the last such showpiece they staged, in 2006. Who could forget the devastation when Italy’s Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero killed the mood in the last seconds of the 2006 World Cup semi-final in Dortmund? As a moment in the German sporting story, this was equally gut-wrenching.

After a chaotic, ill-tempered 120 minutes, few doubted that Spain were deserved winners, with Merino’s intervention testament to their belief that they could strike from anywhere, at any time. The match defied logic: it was, for example, only the fourth in European Championship history where three different substitutes had scored. The card frenzy from referee Anthony Taylor was also bewildering, with the denouement so intense that Dani Carvajal contrived to be sent off without anyone much noticing.

In a game billed as a final all but name, the two heavyweights shadow-boxed to a standstill at times, encumbered by the stakes for which they were playing. Where most had expected Spanish artistry, the hosts snuffed this out at source, hacking down Pedri – the 21-year-old whose protracted injury issues had kept him out of the national side – with particular savagery. Kroos was the culprit, producing a tackle so late that even the perennially tardy German railway system could have offered him a career change.

Not that the Germans were tempted to dial down their approach. Antonio Rudiger, caught out of position, bundled Olmo over to earn a booking, while Emre Can was fortunate to escape the same punishment when he cynically blocked Lamine Yamal to stop a quick counter-attack.

Nagelsmann had apparently set his team up to dismantle Spain with malice rather than majesty. Luis de la Fuente’s side simply had to soak up the manhandling and wait for their cue to slice a panicking German defence apart. It materialised thanks to the irrepressible Yamal. It defies belief that Spain rely so much on a 16-year-old who has had to bring his school homework on tour, but when you saw his control here under the most glaring spotlight, you understood why.

Tearing down the right, Yamal had both David Raum and Jonathan Tah backpedalling, before delivering a square ball so perfectly weighted that Olmo did not even have to break stride in steering it beyond Neuer. Even De la Fuente marvelled at the seamlessness of which his team were capable. “We are witnessing something historic,” he said. “We must value the example that these players are giving.”

Were Spain out of sight? It felt like it with Yamal in this mood, leaping to the top of the tournament’s assists table in three. The prodigy has an attitude, too, as shown by his fury at being replaced after an hour. With Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique watching on, linchpins of the team who won three straight major championships from 2008 to 2012, there was a powerful sense of the next golden generation taking shape.

Except De la Fuente seemed to go too early with his defensive substitutions, as Germany sprang belatedly into life on falling behind. First Niclas Fullkrug hit the post from Florian Wirtz’s cross, only for Joshua Kimmich to provide the crucial inspiration just as his team threatened to tumble out. With Maximilian Mittelstadt’s ball drifting long, the captain headed it back into danger, setting up Wirtz to cannon a shot in off the post and trigger mayhem all around. Could they hold on? Could they muster one last riposte in extra time? Sadly for the teeming masses here, they crumbled at the death, with Merino dashing the dream.

Spain 2 Germany 1 aet: as it happened

08:10 PM BST

Final verdict

07:58 PM BST

Anthony Taylor’s busy day

Fifteen yellow cards to players on the field, two to unused subs and a red for Dani Carvajal which means he, Le Normand, captain Morata and probably the injured Pedri will miss a semi-final against France or Portugal.

Second yellow card for Carvajal
Anthony Taylor sends off Dani Carvajal - Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

07:54 PM BST

Here’s Fullkrug’s late chance

07:39 PM BST

Full time: Spain 2 Germany 1

Germany have been knocked out and Toni Kroos has played his last match of professional football.

What a hugely enjoyable game. Enthralling. Wasn’t full of skill but plenty of heart and guts. And the substitutes made it a slugfest at the end that could have gone both ways.

07:38 PM BST

120+5 min: Spain 2 Germany 1

On and on goes stoppage time as Spain try to stick it in the corner.

Germany pour forward. Carvajal wraps his arms round Musiala’s neck to stop him getting through and is sent off. A free-kick to come?

Simon comes out to catch the cross and Taylor finally blows for time.

07:36 PM BST

120+2 min: Spain 2 Germany 1

Oh my godfathers. Fullkrug has a header from eight yards that he flashes wide of the right post. The ball was slightly behind him but he managed to redirect it with a twist of the neck.

07:31 PM BST

GOAL!

Spain 2 Germany 1 (Merino)  With less than a minute left, Carvajal sprays a crossfield pass to Cucurella who knocks it in to Dani Olmo and he bends his cross towards the near post where Merino meets it perfectly and buries it from 12 yards with a bullet.

07:30 PM BST

119 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Find someone who loves you like Ally McCoist loves Niclas Fullkrug!

07:29 PM BST

117 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

And Nacho is almost punished for chewing the scenery when Fullkrug steals ahead of him to dive and head Kimmich’s cross on target. Great save by Simon diving to his left.

07:28 PM BST

115 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Nacho slows down to allow Wirtz run into him and goes down as if hit by a sniper. ‘It’s embarrassing,’ says Ally McCoist. ‘What if his children are watching? It’s cringe.’

07:25 PM BST

113 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Oyarzabal tries to bend a left-foot shot inside the left post from 20 yards but pokes it wide. Germany are protesting because Kroos was on the deck after running into Rodri and they wanted Spain to put the ball out.

07:23 PM BST

112 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Heavy collision between Cucurella and Kimmich as they both attack a bouncing ball. Kimmich arrives a split-second in the lead and Cucurella falls like a bag of hammers when he runs into Kimmich’s shoulder.

07:22 PM BST

110 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Germany break having defended the corner. Musiala bends a brilliant pass with the outside of his right up to Wirtz who dribbles upfield, not exactly at full gas. Musiala goes with him, goes down the right to receive the return but instead Wirtz reverses it to his left for Fullkrug who hooks his shot wide.

07:20 PM BST

108 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Rudiger stops Merino finding Joselu in the box at the price of a corner.

07:19 PM BST

106 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Big Germany shout for a penalty when Musiala’s shot hits Cucurella’s left hand. It stopped the ball but it was down by his side and didn’t move towards the ball. Effective work by Fullkrug to tee up the shot with his back to goal.

VAR agrees with Anthony Taylor that it was not a pen.

07:17 PM BST

Sub to save us from shoot-out?

There was a spontaneous airing of Deutschlandlied 10 minutes into the first half of extra time. Always strikes me as a slightly panicked move, singing the national anthem out of its usual pre-game context.

Both teams showing some signs of doziness now, no one who finishes this game should be operating any heavy machinery tonight. Feels like if we are to avoid penalties it will be decided by one of the subs. Oyarzabal’s long shot was close and Wirtz is beginning to look consistently threatening. Fresher, perhaps, for having started on the bench. Maybe this was a managerial stroke of genius? Call him Julian Masterplann.

07:15 PM BST

Half-time extra time: Spain 1 Germany 1

Oh my word! Muller ghosts into space behind Carvajal, takes the ball a stride on then rolls it across the 18-yard line to Wirtz who drags a left-foot shot wide of the right post.

Muller roars in frustration
Muller tried to put it on a plate for Wirtz - REUTERS/Lee Smith

07:12 PM BST

103 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Oyarzabal is allowed to dribble in from the right, open his body and bend a left-foot shot that whistles past Neuer’s fingertips and the left post.

07:10 PM BST

101 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Wirtz sends Musiala down the left and he makes it to the byline to whack a cross that Simon spills and then scrambles away. A foul stops Germany feasting on the scraps.

Joselu ⇢ Fabian Ruiz.

07:08 PM BST

100 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Cucurella comes in off the left on the cover to stop Muller breaking through midfield and through on goal, the Raumdeuter having been forced to check his run by a botched/delayed release.

07:06 PM BST

98 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Muller dribbles down the right and crosses low, in front of Fullkrug and Nacho mops it up.

07:05 PM BST

96 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Quite open now, which is neither manager’s intention. Carvajal goes deep down the right, checks back on to his left and lifts up a cross that Anton heads. Dani Olmo meets the clearance on the volley but slaps it straight into a German’s midriff.

07:03 PM BST

95 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Spain still have one sub to make. Germany have used all five and the extra-time, extra-sub.

07:02 PM BST

93 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Cucurella goes down when Wirtz blocks his run off the ball  with an arm across the adam’s apple. Yellow card for Germany’s goalscorer.

07:00 PM BST

91 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Anton ⇢ Havertz. Andrich goes back into midfield.

Fullkrug times a pass out to Wirtz on the right perfectly and he bends a cross through the area, in front of Fullkrug but without the pace to reach Muller coming in off the other flank.

06:55 PM BST

90 minute whistle verdict

There is Germany’s Jude Bellingham moment, from the player many expected to seize this tournament who had been dropped for this game. Quite a Fleisch und Kartoffeln feel to the goal, high ball hung up to the back post, header won, second ball, bang. Excellent finish in the circumstances from Wirtz. John Beck would be proud.

Has De La Fuente gone too early with his shoring-up subs? No Yamal or Williams for extra time although Oyarzabal and Torres are no mugs.

Every German fan is willing on the Fullkrug fairytale now. They have the momentum, can they settle it with an added half an hour.

06:54 PM BST

End of normal time: Spain 1 Germany 1

Cross from the left just evades Fullkrug and the cross back in from the right is stabbed inches wide by Muller who blindsided Nacho. Muller may have been offside. That would have been victory with the last kick of the game had he scored (and been onside).

06:53 PM BST

90+3 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

A so far unused sub, Nico Schlotterbeck, has been booked for dissent.

06:52 PM BST

90+1 min: Spain 1 Germany 1

Four minutes of stoppage time are signalled by the English officials. Taylor should have also signalled for a foul for the most blatant shove by Kroos of Oyarzabal that you could ever see.

06:47 PM BST

GOAL!

Spain 1 Germany 1 (Wirtz)  It didn’t come from the corner, which Spain defend pretty well. But Germany come back down the right, shift it to Kroos in the middle who rolls it to his left to Mittelstadt. The left-back stands up a deep cross and Kimmich nods it back from beyond the far post. Wirtz pounces, half-volleying into the ground and in off the left post from six yards.

06:47 PM BST

89 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Germany corner after Spain are opened up down the right by Andrich’s clever pass. Fullkrug was zig-zagging to create some space to meet the cross which was knocked behind.

06:45 PM BST

87 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Kroos floats it to meet Havertz’s far-post run but he shoved Laporte to win the header and missed anyway. Spain free-kick.

06:44 PM BST

85 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Kroos stands over a free-kick 30 yards out, left of centre, for a foul on Fullkrug.

Germany’s bench were on their feet and geeing up their team when the Spain attacking move ended with Ruiz misjudging a ball to the spare man on the left. Think they could see that was a big let-off, Spain had a four on three available. Gaps appearing now as they push for the equaliser. That Fullkrug post-hit is going to hurt in the morning if they cannot rescue this. As will Havertz’s near-perfect lob.

06:43 PM BST

83 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Simon is booked for timewasting over a goalkick. Simon, rattled, hits the re-start straight to Havertz, 40 yards out. The Arsenal forward runs forward and Simon, caught in no man’s land, frantically backpedals as Havertz chips … on to the roof of the net. Wirtz was to Havertz’s right but he took the responsibility on himself.

06:41 PM BST

81 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Fabian Ruiz’s quick feet 40 yards out mesmerise three Germany defenders and off he goes upfield. There’s a chance to shoot but he tries to set up Dani Olmo instead and the pass goes astray.

06:39 PM BST

79 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Oyarzabal ⇢ Williams
Merino ⇢ Morata.

Muller ⇢ Tah.

Germany send Andrich back to centre-half.

06:37 PM BST

77 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Germany slide a long pass down the right bypassing Cucurella. Wirtz scampers on to it and whips a low cross that Fullkrug slides to meet and hooks on to the foot of the near post as Nacho stuck to him like a leech.

06:35 PM BST

75 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Fullkrug tries to knock the ball round the corner when standing at the edge of the D with his back to goal. Just overcooked it.

06:34 PM BST

73 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Mittelstadt is booked for chasing Ferran Torres for 60 yards as Spain counter-attacked and bundled him over. Torres chips the free-kick to the far post, Germany knock it out of the box and now Torres is booked for grabbing Musiala round the waist to stop him flying off upfield on a solo raid.

06:32 PM BST

71 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Fullkrug creates a certain uncertainty in defenders and his presence allows Havertz to find space away from Carvajal to line up a shot with a shimmy that Nacho blocks.

So many in Germany’s colours losing their heads while all about them in Spanish red are keeping theirs. Hosts are building some momentum on the comeback trail but rarely look in full control on the ball and have squandered it under little pressure at times.

Spain a lot more efficient, Rodri impressive (when is he not?) Simon good too, big save from Andrich, claiming plenty of crosses and always getting his team on the move again quickly. But this is a fair old time to hang on for, you sense that Germany will manage at least a few presentable chances in what remains, given the overall volatility of the match.

06:29 PM BST

69 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Andrich stings Simon’s palms diving to his left after a neat lay-off at the back post by Havertz inside to Fullkrug who set up his fellow sub for a shot from 20 yards.

06:27 PM BST

67 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Kroos takes a booking for barrelling Dani Olmo over rather than allowing him to bear down on the sparsely guarded Germany penalty box.

06:26 PM BST

65 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Spain spurn a chance when Morata chooses to go down when ankle tapped instead of staying on his feet to roll it through to to Ferran Torres who was clear through.

Dani Olmo scores
Dani Olmo, who plays in the Bundesliga, opens the scoring - RONALD WITTEK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

06:22 PM BST

63 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Kroos bends the corner to the near post, Fullkrug runs across Tah but flicks his header over.

06:21 PM BST

61 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

The first corner comes to naught but back come Germany and win another one after Cucurella seems to lose his bearings.

Ferran Torres ⇢ Yamal.

06:20 PM BST

58 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Dani Olmo and Yamal almost link up again to devastating effect as Germany commit six men upfield to press for the equaliser. When Tah and Rudiger wrestle possession back, Germany rain crosses on the Spain box, desperately seeking Fullkrug.

Although the target man is not found, the ball zips around the box and out to Wirtz who hammers a skimming shot that takes a deflection and out for a corner.

06:17 PM BST

56 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Booking for Andrich for a clumsy foul. Nagelsmann rolls the dice:

Fullkrug ⇢ Gundogan
Mittelstadt ⇢ Raum.

06:15 PM BST

54 min: Spain 1 Germany 0

Excellent tackle from Rodri stops a German counter.

There’s that decisive Yamal intervention I was calling for at half time. Nothing too mindblowing about his assist for Olmo, but what poise nevertheless to deliver it accurately at the perfect moment, especially given his age.

Lovely run from Olmo to make the chance. Decent response from Germany on the pitch and in the stands. Supporters initially silenced but back up to full volume quickly. The team might need them. Tah in particularly looking increasingly vulnerable in their defence.

06:10 PM BST

GOAL!

Spain 1 Germany 0 (Dani Olmo) Laporte has the ball just outside his box and sprays a diagonal pass to his right up to Morata on halfway. The captain spins and plays a fine pass to Yamal down the right. Raum lets him run, jockeying but not tackling and then the 16-year-old lifts up his eyes and squares a pass across the 18 yard line. Dani Olmo, timing his arrival superbly, surprises Andrich and Kroos, running between to clip a low, first-time shot in at the left post.

06:09 PM BST

50 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Andrich, with Havertz and Gundogan better placed, blazes a shot from 20 yards.

06:08 PM BST

48 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Big chance for Morata, seven yards out. Dani Olmo pings the ball from the left of the box to Yamal on the right and he sweeps it first-time to his captain who has his back to goal. Morata cushions it, rolls Tah and blasts over the bar, the ball slightly sitting up mitigating the miss a bit. He also claimed his shirt was being pulled.

06:05 PM BST

46 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Three half-time subs:

Andrich ⇢ Can
Wirtz ⇢ Sane.

Nacho for Le Normand.

And Wirtz is almost straight into action, hounding Laporte as he dawdled in possession but fouling him before he could steal the ball.

06:03 PM BST

Looks like Robert Andrich is coming on

Andrich and his pink hair
Robert Andrich AKA Phyllis Pearce heads on to the pitch - AP Photo/Michael Probst

05:52 PM BST

Half-time verdict

A proper game. Lots of skill, visibly high stakes leading to more errors than usual, small helping of thuggery. Some questions for Anthony Taylor about how Kroos avoided a booking for his successful Pedri-crocking mission, but Olmo has slotted in well for Spain.

They could do with more from Yamal in the second half, who has been well-marshalled by Raum so far. Williams having more joy out of Kimmich but it is still an engaging battle. Germany had a good 20 minute spell but it felt like they were hanging on in the final minutes of the half. Their changes feel key.  Fullkrug and Wirtz two obvious candidates.

05:52 PM BST

Half-time: Spain 0 Germany 0

Plenty of shots and crosses but without the necessary poise or precision. Germany started with a clear plan to try to bully Spain and Pedri had to depart after three fouls on him in the first eight minutes. Spain have hardly been shrinking violets themselves either in their reaction and trying to provoke yellow cards or in their range of tactical fouls.

Some lovely touches, though, to savour from Musiala, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Havertz and Gundogan.

Ilkay Guendogan of Germany reacts after a challenge from Marc Cucurella
Cucurella tangles with Gundogan as the pressure starts to weigh on both sides - Clive Mason/Getty Images

05:48 PM BST

45+2 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Two minutes of stoppage time come to an end with a foul by Cucurella. The 15th of an enjoyable but scrappy half.

05:46 PM BST

45 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Yamal chances his arm from 25 yards and Neuer deals with it comforatbly.

05:46 PM BST

43 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Williams is suffering from winger’s disease today, an ineradicable inconsistency that had him playing out of his skin against Georgia and here wasting opportunities to cross by overegging them. Having got in behind Kimmich for the fourth or fifth time, he doesn’t see Dani Olmo’s angled run and slaps the cross over the box and out for a throw-in.

Having said that, if Joselu was centre-forward and not Morata, hanging deep like a Castillian Kane, they might have had two targets to hit.

05:43 PM BST

41 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Possession is a couple of points off 50-50 as the two trade attacks. Lot of mistakes, though.

You can just about detect the dissent from the fans towards Havertz as he misses probably the chance of the game so far. Slightly exasperated “aaahhhh!” noise rather than the usual “oooh!” you would get for at least working the keeper.

German gameplan to keep ball now working pretty well, but not convinced they are making the best of it. Play becoming stilted when they reach Spain’s defence and they do not look to have the pace-changing initiative which Spain possess on either flank with Williams and  Yamal.

Plenty of grit  from the Spanish too. Enjoyed Carvjal nutmegging Musiala for no real reason, but overdoing it to turn over possession. Then the Spaniard chased the ball down at speed and nearly won it back from Tah. Sure Germany are winning the possession stats but it feels like Spain are the more dangerous.

05:41 PM BST

39 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Spain pounce on a Germany mistake and Dani Olmo, who haunts the No10 hole just in front of Rudiger and Tah, smacks a shot that Neuer bats away. Morata tries to snap up the rebound but can’t get there and if he had done may well have been offside.

05:38 PM BST

37 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Neuer is forced into a smart save low at his right post after Dani Olmo played a cute pass behind Kimmich. Williams ran on to it and thumped the shot on the angle. Neuer blocked it out for a corner but up went the flag at that moment. Had the ball gone in, VAR may well have upheld the goal. Looked just onside.

05:36 PM BST

35 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Germany stick it in the mixer with a 60-yard diagonal that Havertz takes on his chest in the inside-left channel, gulls Le Normand by spinning inside to shoot with his right, scudding it low but too near to Simon.

05:34 PM BST

33 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Kimmich gets behind Cucurella to cross but was offside when he ran on to Havertz’s clever pass.

05:32 PM BST

31 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Le Normand is booked and would also miss asemi-final. Gundogan had spun away from him so he clipped his heels in midfield.

Then Can boots Yamal across the left calf when Spain break upfield having dealt with the free-kick by virtue of Cucurella’s vital header. No booking for Can, though.

05:30 PM BST

29 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Carvajal screams and writhes after being obstructed by Raum and Carvajal hams it up as he generally does. Raum is booked which is a bit harsh given the things Anthony Taylor has let lie.

Spain cross from the right and Dani Olmo controls the clearance on his thigh, knocking it up to volley miles over the bar from 20 yards.

05:27 PM BST

27 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Confident catch by Simon from a Kroos corner on the right. Tah missed the header in the centre of goal and Rudiger was being held by Yamal to stop him getting there.

Think I’m close to joining #teamFullkrug already here. It’s been such a physical game so far and the few times he has been called upon to hold up the ball Havertz has struggled. Might have done better with his headed chance too. Could be a day for a battering ram, and the big chap from Dortmund might be ideal.

With or without him Germany need a foothold. Spain are almost working in two sub-teams, the front four closing down space and men so well that Germany have struggled to find Sane or Musiala in space on the wings. The defensive group are able to sit off a little, but when called upon they have been winning their battles. Helps when you have Rodri in the middle playing faultlessly so far.

05:26 PM BST

25 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Germany free-kick on the right after Kimmich is tripped by his stumbling pursuer who kind of fell into him. Kroos takes and bends an inswinger towards the far post and Tah diverts it towards goal with his head but without power nor a scavenger to follow it in.

05:24 PM BST

23 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Laporte joins the attack, drifting forward unmarked  and, when the ball comes to him in the inside-left channel, takes a stride and thumps a low shot on target. Neuer sees it all the way as it hovers low above the grass and flops on top to smother it.

05:22 PM BST

21 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Terrific move by Germany, building quickly and Gundogan picking the perfect long pass to send Kimmich in behind Cucurella down the right. The versatile right-back picks up his eyes and wraps his instep around a deep cross on the run. Havertz darts through the six-yard box and heads it straight at Simon.

Pedri departs
A distraught Pedri, who has endured 18 months of injury problems, is hurt again - KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

05:18 PM BST

18 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Spain break from Simon’s quick re-start down the left and work it past Can to Fabian Ruiz, ghosting down the inside right, to cushion Cucurella’s pass, telegraph a shot which he then blazes over the bar from 20 yards.

05:16 PM BST

16 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Musiala comes back to help Raum tackle Yamal and Musiala hares off down the left. Raum keeps pace then bombs past down the outside and the winger slips it down the line for the left-back but again he makes a hash of the cross.

05:15 PM BST

14 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Yellow card for Rudiger for a trip on Olmo which would keep him out of the semi-final if they get there. Twenty yards out, right of centre.

Dani Olmo runs over it and Yamal harpoons it through the wall but wide of the right post.

05:13 PM BST

12 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Anthony Taylor waves his hands across his waist as if to say ‘that’s it, cut it out’ after Williams sticks himself between Kimmich and the ball and forces Kimmich to run in to him.

Kroos using all of his experience to judge that he would not get a yellow for his trip and subsequent nobbling job on Pedri. Anthony Taylor is employing the “try not to book anyone in the opening 10 minutes” amendment to the Laws. To the game’s benefit so far, enjoyably testy opening period. Germany’s fans whistling with venom for the time first Cucurella then Pedri spend down on the deck, despite Pedri’s obvious injury and substitution. If he’s faking that he’s gone too far with the method acting.

05:11 PM BST

10 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Spain’s manager is in the fourth official’s ear about all the rough-housing.

Raum fires a cross straight down Simon’s throat after good work between Havertz and Gundogan sent the marauding left-back towards the byline. Should have dragged it back or floated it to the back post. He ended up doing a hybrid of both and ending up with nothing.

Cucurella hits the deck
Can barges Cucurella over – part of a hyper-aggressive strategy by the hosts - Clive Mason/Getty Images

05:08 PM BST

8 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Germany have kicked Pedri out of the game. Three hard tackles, one of them on the top of the foot a nasty one.

Dani Olmo ⇢ Pedri

05:07 PM BST

5 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Seems clear that Germany are keen to rattle Spain physically to see if they can stand up to it. Gundogan fouls Pedri and then Kroos goes over the ball to catch him on the top of his foot when he dribbles after the free-kick.

Bad foul that but still no yellow.

05:05 PM BST

3 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Pause for treatment to Cucurella who was caught by Can as they battled for a bouncing ball. When he recovers Sane has a run at the Spain left-back and earns a throw. Spain win the ball back and Rodri knocks it infield to Pedri who is taken out by Kroos, hanging his leg across him. Should have been a yellow card if he didn’t touch it. The replay shows a scrape with his toe of the ball before he legged Pdri up.

05:02 PM BST

1 min: Spain 0 Germany 0

Germany kick off and chip it long up the right where Cucurella wins the header and sparks a couple of midfield turnovers until Fabian Ruiz slips a pass down the left to Williams down the left. He opens his body and steers a right-foot pass towards the penalty spot where Morata takes it, back to goal, and sets it for Pedri by the right of the D to fizz a daisycutter far too close to Neuer who drops to his left to gather.

04:56 PM BST

National anthems

In the absence of words, Spain fans scat along with La Marcha Real.

By contrast the Deutschlandlied is sung heartily.

04:54 PM BST

Out come the teams

The teams are in the tunnel and the lingering camera at the back allows us to watch the stud check. Exhilarating stuff.

Spain are wearing red/blue/red the Germans in all white.

We are watching what Herr Shöutsalot on the PA described as “the pre-match procedure”. It’s not Julian Nagelsmann having his appendix out, but the usual flag-shaking and centre circle logo display.

04:48 PM BST

Shared striking conundrum

Something these teams have in common is the lack of an A-lister up front. Wrote earlier today about Havertz, whose inclusion from the start has upset a growing group agitating for Niclas Fullkrug. Havertz is from the selfless, space-opening modern striker mould. Clearly a capable operator but hardly the focal point of the team,

Meanwhile Spain start with Alvaro Morata, Chelsea failure who may be replaced at some point on Joselu, Stoke failure. That is a harsh reading, especially of Morata who has had a distinguished career at some of the biggest clubs in the world. But I think one of the most unexpected developments of current football is how many excellent teams operate without a truly top-level striker. They used to feel essential.

04:45 PM BST

Young guns, having some fun

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams
Spain's wingers channel Wham! - Alex Livesey/Getty Images

04:39 PM BST

Sounds of Stuttgart

Germany are out and Major Tom by Peter Schilling is playing. It’s a song from 1983 which sounds like Billy Idol covering Falco. No complaints.

The chorus, which is sung with feeling by about 80 per cent of the stadium goes:

Völlig losgelöst von der Erde / Schwebt das Raumschiff völlig schwerelos

Which translates as:

Earth below us, drifting, falling / Floating weightless, coming, coming home

Not the sort of triumphalist or even optimistic lyrics you would expect, but it’s a lot better than Sweet Caroline. No response yet from the Spanish but will listen out for an airing of Julio Iglesias’ Me Olvide De Vivir.

04:28 PM BST

Red rag to a bull

Sign saying Chorizo is better than Bratwurst
Porcine provocation - Alex Livesey/Getty Images

04:16 PM BST

Flag days

The spotting of obscure club names on St George’s crosses is a popular pre-match activity at England games and pleased to say you can play a similar game when the hosts play. I am looking down at banners for all sorts of obscure villages I have never heard of. Your Fuppes, your Rogatzes, your Dudenhofens.

They favour a simple white text over dark background here, none of this flag-adornment nonsense. The one which always sticks out for me is Spenge, as a native of its south London equivalent Penge.You can spot the Spenge massive at most Euros game and pleased to see they are present and correct this afternoon, on the far left of your picture near the corner flag if you want to play along at home after kick-off.

Huge whistles from the German majority, seemingly prompted by an advert over the PA for a holiday website. Oh no, wait, Spain are out for their warm-up.

Ahaus sign
In the middle of our street … - ABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

04:12 PM BST

Robert Andrich dyed his hair after the R16 victory

But has been dropped for Emre Can. Can you rock something that bold from the bench?

Robert Andrich
Robert Andrich has been replaced in the starting XI by Emre Can - Sebastian Widmann/UEFA via Getty Images

04:06 PM BST

Telegraph Sport’s double act have their say

04:02 PM BST

Spain vs Germany lineups

Spain  Simon (Athletic Bilbao); Cravajal (Real Madrid), Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Laporte (Al Nassr), Cucurella (Chelsea); Pedri (Barcelona), Rodri (Man City), Ruiz (PSG); Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Morata (Atletico Madrid), Yamal (Barcelona).

Germany  Neuer (Bayern Munich); Kimmich (Bayern), Rudiger (Real Madrid), Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Raum (RB Leipzig); Kroos (Real Madrid), Can (Borussia Dortmund); Sane (Bayern Munich), Gundogan (Barcelona), Musiala (Bayern Munich); Havertz (Arsenal).

Referee  Anthony Taylor (England).

04:01 PM BST

Spain are unchanged

03:57 PM BST

Germany make two changes

Tah returns for Schlotterbeck and Can comes in for Andrich:

03:50 PM BST

The last time these two met in the Euros

A breakthrough moment for Spain:

03:33 PM BST

Strange demand

Take off the Spaniards’ swimming trunks?! Is this a call to arms for a mass debagging? Sinister …

03:15 PM BST

Having a wager?

Touted as the tie to decide who lifts the trophy - the two most impressive teams of the tournament so far go head-to-head and you can back your fancies for the game with these Euros betting offers.

03:13 PM BST

Play our predictor: win lose or draw?

03:11 PM BST

Preview: Shame one has to lose

By Ben Green

Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the first Euro 2024 quarter-final between the hosts, Germany, and the slickest side in the tournament so far, Spain.

The final of Euro 2024 officially takes place on July 14 but today is when the tournament’s two most talented teams go head-to-head. Both have a superb blend of fearless youth and wise experience.

Neither team has truly been tested yet. On paper, Spain were placed in the most challenging group, but the early and feeble exits of Italy and Croatia mean that we cannot read too much into these triumphs. Germany, meanwhile, had by far the strongest squad in their group and have only really faced one decent side in Switzerland, breezing past Scotland and Hungary and not being troubled much by their northern neighbour, Denmark.

Both defences have looked solid so far but they have not faced the star talent that they will this afternoon. The Germans are yet to face an attack possessing the raw talent of the teenage Lamine Yamal, while Spain have not played against a striker as imposing as Niclas Füllkrug or a winger as electric as Jamal Musiala.

Spain have not once looked like losing; their brief scare against Georgia lasted just 21 minutes until Rodri restored the status quo. Quick, tricky and direct in attack while solid at the back, Spain have not revealed any obvious weaknesses so far. But Germany are Germany. Like England, they are a bit of a moments team; it is difficult to see them not finding a way.

For both teams, it will be a battle of defence versus attack. Throughout the tournament, Spain have scored nine and conceded one and Germany have scored 10 and conceded two. The team that is superior in mitigating their opponents attacking talent will dictate the pace, control the game and almost certainly progress to the next round.

It is a shame that one of these great teams must go home early, but that is tournament football in a nutshell. It is harsh and unforgiving.

The winner will face either France or Portugal in Tuesday’s semi-final.

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