The international press is unanimous: the match between Germany and Spain truly deserved to be called a duel of giants. It was a real thriller in Stuttgart: a deficit, extra time, very late and a bitter knockout for the DFB.
The German national football team suffered a dramatic 1-2 loss after extra time against Spain in the quarter-finals of the European Championship on home soil in Stuttgart on Friday and was eliminated from the European Championship on home soil. This is what international media wrote about the game in Stuttgart:
Spain
“Marca”: “Heroic feat by Spain. In a match that went into extra time, epic and magnificent, Spain writes an unforgettable page in history. A jump by Merino seals a historic afternoon. Luis de la Fuente’s team does not negotiate the word ‘impossible’.”
“AS”: “Heads to the final. (…) For Quincoces, Zarra, Arconada, Quini, Camacho, Zubizarreta, Butragueño, Joaquín, Busquets…for them and for all those who in their time tried to beat the host of a World or European Championship and failed. Test passed.”
“Sport”: “Kick through Spain.”
“Mundo Deportivo”: “La Roja suffered against a strong Germany and advanced thanks to a goal from Merino in the last minute of extra time. The host’s curse is over: Spain is in the semi-finals.”
Great Britain
“The Sun”: “Mikel Merino ended Germany’s summer fairytale with a sensational late winner.”
“The Guardian”: “Mikel Merino breaks the hosts’ hearts. Spain knocks Germany out of the European Championship. Germany’s second summer fairytale is over, but Spain’s continues.”
“Daily Mail”: “Spain breaks German hearts. We have our first ever semi-finalist of this year’s European Championship – and it’s not Germany. The hosts’ journey ended in Stuttgart with a header from Mikel Merino in extra time.”
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Italy
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “Merino’s scream! Goal in the 119th minute, Spain is in the semi-finals. Germany is furious and complains about a missing penalty.”
“Corriere dello Sport”: “A goal by Merino in extra time makes the Germans cry. Taylor, what a mistake! Wild arguments after Spain – Germany. The protagonist in the negative sense was the referee Anthony Taylor, who did not award a penalty for Germany after a handball in the penalty area. The replay left no room for doubt about the decisive touch of the ball by the arm.”
“Tuttosport”: “Merino becomes the Spanish hero in injury time. Germany knocked out, but Taylor makes so many mistakes.”
“La Repubblica”: “Spain wins the derby between the two most beautiful teams in Europe. The only shame is that we have to say goodbye to one of the two best teams in the tournament and with it champions like Kroos in the last game of his career, Kimmich, Wirtz and Musiala.”
France
RMC Sport: “After an exciting match, Spain moves into the semi-finals of the 2024 European Football Championship with a 2-1 victory over hosts Germany!”
“Le Parisien”: “Despite heroic resistance for 120 minutes, Germany had to admit defeat against Spain. La Roja is the first qualifier for the first semi-final on Tuesday in Munich.”
“Le Figaro”: “Spain pulls off a major coup. (…) The Germans have fallen short of expectations in recent international tournaments and once again failed to reach the last four at a European or World Championship, a stage they have not reached since the 2016 European Championship.”
Austria
“Kronen Zeitung”: “Spain has ended Germany’s dream of winning the European Championship at home. “La Roja” defeated the hosts 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-final on Friday.”
“Der Standard”: “Drama in Stuttgart: Spain destroys Germany’s dreams in extra time”
“Kurier”: “Last-minute shock for Germany: Spain is in the European Championship semi-finals. The dreams of the next German summer fairytale have been shattered. The Spaniards are celebrating a 2-1 victory after 120 minutes.”
Switzerland
“Neue Zürcher Zeitung”: “Late exit in a big match: In the 119th minute, host Germany had to admit defeat to Spain. The quarter-final was hard-fought, the match was so intense that it almost overwhelmed the audience. The defeated Germans have nothing to reproach themselves for.”
“Luzerner Zeitung”: “Spain beat Germany thanks to a late goal and is in the European Championship semi-finals. For Germany, the dream of winning the European Championship on home soil ends in the quarter-finals. The Germans lose 2-1 to Spain in Stuttgart after extra time.”
“Berner Zeitung”: “First completely detached, the Germans are suddenly completely distraught. They tremble, they storm forward and save themselves in extra time. But then the tournament ends dramatically for the Germans in the quarter-finals against Spain.”
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
