Last-gasp goal sends Spain to Euro 2024 semis

STUTTGART, Germany (AP):

Spain and their fans celebrated as if they’d won the European Championship. After eliminating tournament hosts Germany in a thrilling quarter-final, Luis de la Fuente’s team has a great chance to lift the trophy in Berlin next week.

Spain snatched a 2-1 win in extra time yesterday, thanks to substitute Mikel Merino’s header in the 119th minute. Merino celebrated by running around the corner flag, mimicking his father Ángel Merino’s celebration after he scored in the same stadium for Osasuna in the UEFA Cup against Stuttgart in 1991.

“I knew that there was very little time left and that it was one of the last attacks we would have,” Merino said. “I didn’t believe that it had gone in until a couple of seconds later. When you get 30 slaps on your back, it sinks in real quick.

“I am very happy for me and the entire team. It all comes down to one moment (the goal), but there is so much work behind it, all the training, the hope, the faith, and the belief in ourselves.”

Extra time came only after Florian Wirtz’s equaliser in the last minute of regulation.

Dani Olmo, who set up Merino’s winner, netted the opener early in the second half. All three goals came from substitutes.

Spain defender Dani Carvajal was sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card, and will be suspended from Tuesday’s semi-final against Portugal or France. Fellow defender Robin le Normand will also miss that match, after picking up another booking.

It was the first time Spain had eliminated the hosts of a major tournament in 10 attempts.

“We were so close, that’s what makes it so bitter,” Germany midfielder Toni Kroos said after the final match of his distinguished career. The 2014 World Cup winner earlier announced he was retiring when Germany’s campaign ended.

Teammates who might also have played their last international included captain İlkay Gündoğan, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer.

The quarter-final pitted the Euros’ only three-time champions, the teams who have played the best football at Euro 2024, and it didn’t disappoint.

There was a blistering pace from the start, with crunching tackles and end-to-end action.

Kroos was lucky not to be booked for a mistimed challenge that upended Spain midfielder Pedri. Pedri suffered another hefty challenge moments later and left the field injured and in tears. He was replaced by Olmo in the eighth minute, the fastest replacement in Euros history.

From the resulting free kick, Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest ever goalscorer at the tournament, but the 16-year-old’s effort flashed past the right post.

Yamal did have a hand in the opener, as he cut inside from the right and rolled the ball across for Olmo to hit it first time into the bottom left corner.

It was Yamal’s third assist of the tournament, the most by a teenager at a Euros.