Euro 2024

SPAIN are through to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after beating Germany. Dani Olmo opened the scoring with a brilliant goal before Florian Wirtz equalised in the 89th-minute with a close-range volley.But in the 119th-minute, sub Mikel Merino popped up to score before Dani Carvajal was sent off in the dying seconds. Kick-off time: 5pm BSTStream/TV: ITVX/ITV1Spain XI: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabian; Lamine, Morata, WilliamsGermany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Raum; Can, Kroos; Sane, Gundogan, Musiala; HavertzEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSGermans distraught after exitToni Kroos has played his last game for club and country.He would have hoped that he would be walking out at the final of this tournament but it was not to be.The hosts are sent packing with the Spaniards progressing to the semi-finals.Credit: PACredit: GettyCredit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedSpanish stun hosts in late dramaSpain thought they had this game won until Florian Wirtz grabbed a late equaliser.La Roja managed to clear their heads and go again in extra-time to put Germany to the sword.Niclas Fullkrug will be wondering what could have been as headed narrowly wide in the dying moments of the game.Credit: PACredit: RexCopy linkCopiedFT: Spain 2-1 GermanyIt was a game full of drama in Stuttgart.Germany grabbed a late equaliser but the Spanish regrouped and came back to grab a second to win it.Nagelsmann’s side become the first host nation to go out at this stage of the Euros.Copy linkCopiedFT: Spain 2-1 GermanyIt is all over.The referee blows his whistle and the hosts are out.Spain progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 2-1 Germany120+5. Carvajal blocks off Musiala to stop him going forward.The Real Madrid defender is shown his second yellow card of the game and given his marching orders.Taking one for the team right there.Copy linkCopiedRed card – Dani Carvajal (Spain)Copy linkCopiedSpain 2-1 Germany120+2. Kimmich has a venomous shot towards goal but it is well blocked by the Spanish defence.Torres breaks and has the chance to put the game to bed but lifts his shot wide of the goal.This is the last chance for Germany to create something surely.As the cross comes in, Fullkrug has a free header but puts it inches wide of the post.Copy linkCopiedSpain 2-1 Germany120. The German fans hold their heads in their hands.Olmo lifts a superb ball into the box, Merino hangs in the air and directs his header into the far corner.Neuer is rooted to the spot and can do nothing to stop him.We are going to have three added minutes.Copy linkCopiedGoal – Mikel Merino (Spain)Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany118. Kimmich plays a ball forward to Fullkrag who gets a deft flick towards the far corner.Simon is at full-stretch as he makes a great one-handed save.Everyone in the ground is wondering whether either side can find a late winner now.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany116. Spanish players are falling to the ground all over the pitch.Anthony Taylor is not interested in giving them a free kick at all it seems.The replay of what sent Nacho to the ground is embarassing for a grown man.You are likely to see a more firm contact in a childrens’ soft play area.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany114. We are only six minutes away from penalties being needed to decide the winner of this game.Germany have some formidable form when it comes to shootouts in major tournaments.Spain on the other hand, have a woeful record.Credit: AlamyCopy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany112. Spain try a speculative effort from the edge of the box.Neuer was scrambling to his far post but the ball is always going wide.This is still anybody’s game.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany110. Muller is fouled by Rodri and the Spaniard is shown a yellow card.Germany look to counter but Cucurella wins the ball and is then fouled by Kimmich.As ever, the Chelsea full-back makes a meal out of the challenge.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany108. Had they awarded a penalty for that, we could conclude the game is officially broken.The ball did strike the defender’s arm but he did nothing to try use it as an advantage.Wirtz counters for Germany, holds it up well, feeding it into the path of Fullkrug.He slices his shot well wide of the target.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany106. Fullkrug holds the ball up well and lays it off to Musiala.He shoots from the edge of the box but it is blocked by Cucurella.The Germans are demanding for a handball but as the replay shows there was nothing wrong with the position of the Spaniard’s arm.Copy linkCopiedKick-off: Spain 1-1 GermanyWe are back underway in Stuttgart.The stakes could not be higher for either side.Germany get the second-half started.Copy linkCopiedHT: Spain 1-1 GermanyThe referee brings the first half of extra-time to a close.Both sides created half chances but could not capitalise.This game still hangs on a knife edge.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany105. As we edge towards the end of the first half of extra time, neither side have shown a willingness to settle for penalties.The lottery that it is, it can be heartbreaking for the losing team.We are going to have one additional minute.Muller feeds the ball into Wirtz and his shot narrowly misses the far post.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany103. Andrich goes down looking for a foul.The referee disagrees and Spain continue to come forward.Oyarzabal shoots from the edge of the box and it narrowly misses the far post.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany101. Musiala and Wirtz exchange a neat one-two.The former England U-21 international gets to the byline and looks to cross but Simon cuts it out once again.This game is turning into end-to-end stuff at the moment, Ruiz is struggling to continue.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany99. Kroos and Ruiz are both down after a coming together.No cards shown by the referee it was just a full-blooded challenge.Spain are trying to mix it up with a more direct approach but without the pace of Williams and Yamal, it is difficult for them to stretch the German defence.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany97. Carvajal does well to get a cross in from the right wing.Rudiger reads it well as he heads clear.Olmo is continuing to cause problems for the Germans.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany95. Olmo plays a ball across the box but Oyarzabal cannot get on the end of it.It may just take one run and touch of the ball to win this game now.Two teams who want to be in those semi-finals desperately, play out extra-time in Stuttgart.Copy linkCopiedET: Spain 1-1 Germany93. Kroos plays the ball into the box and a number of German and Spanish players end up on the floor.The referee does not feel anything worth noting happened and play continues.Spain give the ball straight back to the Germans but are fortunate to win a free kick for offside.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopied More

SPAIN are up against Germany tonight in a massive Euro 2024 quarter-final match-up. Both sides have been touted as favourites to win it all and will play the winner of Portugal’s match-up with France. Kick-off time: 5pm BSTStream/TV: ITVX/ITV1Spain XI: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabian; Lamine, Morata, WilliamsGermany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Raum; Can, Kroos; Sane, Gundogan, Musiala; HavertzEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSSpain 0-0 Germany5. The ball is played into Pedri, who looks to let the ball run and get on the attack.He is wiped out by Kroos, sending the young Spaniard flying in the air.de la Fuente is furious on the touchline that the German has not been shown a card for the challenge.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedSpain 0-0 Germany3. This match has been huge news in Germany this week.Competing in their first quarter-final since 2016, the hosts are hoping they can go all the way this time.Spain have started on the front-foot, looking to put Die Mannschaft undr some early pressure.Copy linkCopiedSpain 0-0 Germany1. Both sides are getting stuck into the early challenges.Williams then plays the ball into Morata in the penalty-area.He lays it off to Pedri, who strikes it first time, but his effort is straight at Manuel Neuer.Copy linkCopiedKick-off: Spain vs GermanyWe are underway in Stuttgart.There is not a single empty seat in the MHPArena for this one.Germany get the game started.Copy linkCopiedHistory favours the hostsNo host nation has ever been eliminated from the quarter-final stages of the Euros, with all four teams previously at this stage progressing.This will be Germany’s 19th quarter-final at a major tournament, having progressed 15 times from their previous 18 attempts.Die Manschaft’s record is the highest of any European nation at major tournaments.Copy linkCopiedAtmosphere building to fever-pitch The MHPArena is ramping up in terms of noise levels.Whenever the hosts play, you can expect a cauldron of noise.Spain have been well-supported at the tournament and their team have given them plenty to celebrate so far.Credit: PACredit: EPACopy linkCopiedView from SunSport’s Jordan Davies in StuttgartSweet Caroline is being blasted around the Stuttgart Arena and this has the feeling of a special game – Spain boss Luis de la Fuente admitted it is big enough to be the final.But, this is a quarter final, one that will see a big hitter go home, so who will it be? The hosts Germany or the in-form Spaniards?Talking of big-hitting, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has warned 16-year-old Barca star Lamine Yamal that his big defenders will get physical with him to see if he has the nerve to react on this sort of stage.But Nagelsmann is more worried about the other side of the pitch with Nico Williams on the left – a shining light of this tournament so far – hence why he has brought in Leroy Sane instead of Florian Wirtz to cover the space with his pace.Whatever happens tonight, it will be a shock to the Euros system. England – on the other side of the draw – will be watching on with interest…Copy linkCopiedWinner takes it allWhoever comes out on top in Stuttgart this evening will no doubt become the favourite to go on and win Euro 2024.With both sides in the tougher side of the draw, the semi-final will be another challenge, but this is the pick of the ties for the quarter-finals.From what we have seen from both teams so far, goals should be on the menu.Copy linkCopiedGermany have ‘plan B’ in wingsWhile Havertz starts as the striker for the Germans today, should they need to change tactics, they have a perfect replacement.Fullkrug has scored goals when coming off the bench and plays as a more traditional striker.With Havertz usually anywhere on the pitch but in the box, Nagelsmann can quite easily mix it up against Spain.Copy linkCopiedSpain stunned in ’round of 16’Things did not go all to plan against Georgia in the last round.de la Fuente’s fell behind after Le Normand had the misfortune of scoring an own goal.However, goals from Rodri, Ruiz, Williams and Olmo lead to a convincing 4-1 victory.Copy linkCopiedFans looking forward to epic clashAs the MHPArena starts to fill up, there is a sea of colour.Both sets of fans are in party mood and want to see their team progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.It should be a cauldron of noise in Stuttgart as we edge closer to kick-off.Credit: APCredit: APCredit: EPACopy linkCopiedLa Roja firing on all cylindersSpain have won six games in a row in 2024 to date.Luis de la Fuente has only lost one game of his last sixteen as the Spain manager, a surprise defeat against Scotland in March 2023.They will go into today’s game looking to break German hearts, ending the hosts participation in Euro 2024.Copy linkCopiedGermany starting XI:Nagelsmann opts to tinker with his side a little to take on the might of Spain in Stuttgart this evening.1. Neuer, 3. Raum, 4. Tah, 2. Rudiger, 6. Kimmich, 8. Kroos, 25. Can, 10. Musiala, 21. Gundogan, 19. Sane, 7. HavertzCredit: @DFB_Team_ENCopy linkCopiedSpain starting XI:Luis de la Fuente opts to not tinker with the side that got them to the quarter-finals this evening.23. Simon, 24. Cucurella, 14. Laporte, 3. Le Normand, 2. Carvajal, 8. Ruiz, 16. Rodri, 20. Pedri, 17. Williams, 7. Morata, 19. Yamal🚨 OFFICIAL | THIS IS THE STARTING 11 FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS!! 👥 This is the lineup chosen by Luis de la Fuente to battle for a place in the semi-finals against the tournament hosts.💪🏼 Lads, the whole country is behind you!! #VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/ECL81ZaOFN— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) July 5, 2024

Copy linkCopiedDie Mannschaft full of confidenceGermany come into this match unbeaten in 2024, having won six of the eight games they have played.They have not tasted defeat since back-to-back losses in November against Turkey and Austria.Nagelsmann’s side have won three of their four matches in the tournament so far, scoring ten goals and conceding just two.Copy linkCopiedFrom Croydon with loveJulian Nagelsmann follows the trend of modern football as his side tends to play without an out and out striker.Their real danger-man is Croydon raised Jamal Musiala who spent time at Chelsea’s academy and even played for England at all levels right up to Under-21.He then opted to change his allegiance to the nation of his birth, Germany, continuing to flourish at his club Bayern Munich.Copy linkCopiedGoal threat across pitchSpain come into this game as many peoples’ favourites to win Euro 2024 with how they have started.They are not reliant on one focal scorer for their goals and spread the burden across the squad.While their wingers will be of focus this evening, even the likes of Rodri is capable of pinging a pearlier in from outside the box as he showed against Georgia.Copy linkCopiedBoss speaks of focus for gameGerman manager Nagelsmann told the media problems the Spanish wingers offer his team:It’s not a final, it’s a quarter-final. We want to be one of the teams in the semi-final. Spain want to be champions as well, so it’ll be a tough game. Both teams are good in possession, have good counter-pressing qualities and can put their opponents under pressure. Let’s see how he reacts when things get tough. You can’t defend him completely. You have to be prepared for different things. My focus is less on Yamal, more on Jamal [Musiala]. We can do something in attack ourselves.Julian NagelsmannGermanyCopy linkCopiedWingers keys to Spanish successIn the build-up to this game, the German coaches must have been focussing on tactics to prevent the flying Spanish wingers.Williams and Yamal have proved too much for most teams and will ask serious questions of Germany in this game in Stuttgart.If you want to win some silverware, there is no doubting you must beat the best teams to win that right.Copy linkCopiedHosts with huge challenge aheadGermany have looked in good form in Euro 2024, giving home fans hope that they can go on and win the trophy on home soil.However, there is no doubting that Spain have looked the most impressive side in the tournament so far and if Nagelsmann is going to keep that dream alive they will need put in some performance this evening.La Roja will provide the sternest test of the German defence and for the neutrals it offers to be the game of the Euros so far.Copy linkCopiedWelcome to Spain vs GermanyThe pick of the quarter-finals takes place tonight as the hosts take on the favourites at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart.Spain are expected to name an unchanged line-up for the game, with 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams set to join Alvaro Morata in a three man attack.Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino will be pushing for a start ahead of Pedri in the heart of midfield but the Barcelona man is expected to keep his place alongside Rodri and Fabian Ruiz.Nacho has recovered from a minor foot injury but is unlikely to displace Le Normand or Aymeric Laporte in the centre of defence, while Dani Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should continue as full-backs.Julian Nagelsmann could tinker with his side once again and may recall centre-back Jonathan Tah, who served a suspension in the last 16, at the expense of Nico Schlotterbeck.Maximillian Mittelstadt was dropped against Denmark and will be looking to force his way back into the line-up ahead of David Raum, while Florian Wirtz could return on the left side of the attack at the expense of Leroy Sane, allowing Jamal Musiala to move over to the right.Kai Havertz is expected to keep his spot as the central striker despite Niclas Fullkrug pushing for a place in Nagelsmann’s side.Copy linkCopied More