Sports
Spain do something for the very first time and end 89-year wait by knocking Germany out of Euro 2024
Spain made history and also ended an 89-year drought by beating Germany at Euro 2024.
On Friday Spain and Germany went head-to-head in a heavyweight quarter-final clash at Euro 2024, and it was the Spaniards who came out on top 1-0.
It was a shame that two of the best teams at the tournament had to face each-other in the last-eight, but fans were still treated to an entertaining spectacle in Stuttgart.
Spain got off to a difficult start when Pedri limped off with a knee injury just eight minutes into the match.
The 21-year-old was on the receiving end of a rough Toni Kroos tackle, and is expected to miss the rest of the tournament.
He was replaced by Dani Olmo, and it was the RB Leipzig midfielder who broke the deadlock shortly after half-time.
The 26-year-old swept home Nico William’s cut-back, and it turned out to be the only goal of the afternoon.
Spain weathered some intense German pressure in the closing stages, but they eventually cracked in the 89th minute when substitute Florian Wirtz tucked away a Joshua Kimmich nock-down via the far post.
That goal sent the game to extra-time, and penalties looked a formality until substitute Mikel Merino scored a superb header in the 119th minute.
Spain’s only previous win against Germany on German soil came 89 years ago, while La Roja had never before eliminated a host nation from a European Championship or World Cup.
Spain will now face either France or Portugal in the semi-finals in Munich on Tuesday.
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Featured Image Credit: Getty & ITV
Topics: Euro 2024, Spain, Germany, Pedri, Toni Kroos