What a day.
Arguably the four most talented squads remaining at Euro 2024 faced off on Friday. That statement is no shot at the Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland or England, but most pre-tournament predictions featured the likes of France, Germany and Portugal in the final four.
Spain, a destroyer of opposition dreams a few iterations ago, were written off only for Nico Williams & Co. to run past that outdated punditry and introduce a new, dynamic Spain 2.0 to the world.
The question leading up to these matches was simple: Could reality possibly match the hype? Sort of.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s quarterfinals at Euro 2024.
THE RESULTS
Spain 2, Germany 1 A.E.T in Stuttgart: Match report || Match stats
Portugal 0 (3), France 0 (5) (Penalties) in Hamburg: Match report || Match stats
MAIN TALKING POINTS
A Final On Any Other Day
The last time Spain and Germany met at the European Championships was in the 2008 final. Spain’s golden generation used the tournament to mark the beginning of an era few can rival, with Euro glory that year and 2012 sandwiching a World Cup triumph in 2010.
Spain started terribly in the 2008 decider, but a Fernando Torres goal in the 33rd minute changed everything and La Roja managed to hold on for a 1-0 victory. 16 years later, a different story would play out.
Dani Olmo’s goal just after halftime to open the scoring was the product of excellent work by the teenager Lamine Yamal. Spain’s success on the counter in the first half, led by Williams, created the space that Yamal and Olmo would ultimately exploit. Olmo was only in the game after a rash Toni Kroos tackle forced Pedri to exit early due to injury. Kroos was not carded for the challenge.
This match was unique. Rarely do we see so many technically gifted, world class players on the pitch at the same time. When we do, it’s usually without the aggression and reckless abandon we saw in the first 20 minutes. Referee Anthony Taylor, wary of setting precedents he couldn’t adhere to later, was lax and then firm. The amount of players that were booked, leading to their suspension for the next game due to yellow card accumulation, was comical but we’ll get to that later. The aggression was also clearly a tactic employed by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to disrupt the opposition.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente responded to Olmo’s marker by slowly withdrawing his attacking players in favour of those with better defensive capabilities. It was a familiar gamble with typical results. Spain absorbed and invited pressure until they couldn’t. Florian Wirtz’s equalizer — via Joshua Kimmich’s heady work after a Manuel Neuer throw-in(?) — in the 89th minute ensured extra time for a match that deserved it. Unfortunately for Spain and their quest for a second goal, Williams and Yamal were now off.
But they found a way. Substitute Mikel Merino’s expertly timed header broke German hearts in the 119th minute, that man Olmo providing the cross. No, this wasn’t like 2008, but instead 2006 with Merino reprising the role of Italian boogeyman Fabio Grosso.
This Could’ve Been An Email
The apologists will suggest Spain and Germany created a bar too high to clear, but that won’t absolve Portugal and France from their performance in Hamburg.
Neutrals feared the worst with Didier Deschamps coaching France and Roberto Martinez leading Portugal — and they were right. The former can draw on past success at the 2018 World Cup when his critics get too loud, but Les Bleus from open play have been bad in Germany and that continued against Portugal. Martinez’s deference to Cristiano Ronaldo, whether in allowing him free kick reign or refusing to take the 39-year-old off, became increasingly awkward and uncomfortable to watch.
After 105 minutes the commentator indicated the teams had combined for 28 shot attempts, with nine reaching goal. I shrieked “liar!” at the television, but he was right. It just didn’t seem accurate or real.
So we went to penalties. The goalkeepers, Portugal’s Diogo Costa and Mike Maignan for France, were the best players on their teams during the tournament but nothing could be saved. A metaphor for this match, most likely. Joao Felix was the only player to miss, cruelly striking the post and eventually eliminating Portugal in the process.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We threw everything in. To lose when we were so close is bitter. The elimination is the main focus right now, because the goal that we had we were unable to achieve and the dream we had is over. We played a good tournament, but when you’re so close, to be eliminated like that, it’s bitter.” — Toni Kroos speaking to German broadcaster ARD
Germany’s exit marks the end of Kroos’ remarkable professional career. After Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph in June it seemed as though the German icon was destined for the perfect goodbye with the national team. Spain had other plans.
COMPLAINT OF THE DAY
Robin Le Normand (Spain) picked up a yellow card and will miss the semifinal against France because of this (dumb) rule.
EXPLANATION OF THE DAY
Marc Cuccerella appeared to commit a handball offence during extra time in his own box before the Merino winner. German players immediately shouted for a penalty, but Taylor said no.
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Dani Olmo (Spain): Williams, Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Carvajal. You’re forgiven for expecting one of those names to emerge as man of the match if Spain were to be victorious. That it was Olmo, who shines for RB Leipzig in Germany on the club level, is fitting.
2. Mikel Merino (Spain): Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are La Liga’s heavyweights, but Real Sociedad have the most players on Spain’s national team with five. The White and Blues midfielder had a personal connection to Stuttgart as well, with his father scoring for Osasuna at the same ground in 1991.
3. Mike Maignan (France): The 29-year-old has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for a while now but still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Maignan may not have technically saved a penalty, but he was vital in ensuring the match got there.
LOOKING AHEAD
The final set of quarterfinal fixtures are on Saturday, with Switzerland taking on England at noon ET and the Netherlands facing Turkey at 3 p.m. ET.
England manager Gareth Southgate and the formation he will employ against the Swiss in Düsseldorf has dominated headlines in the build up. In order to best utilize Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, they’ll both reportedly play in a ‘shared 10’ role in a 3-5-2 formation.
On paper, this looks good. Will it be enough to silence the Southgate skeptics? Probably not. In Berlin it could be the match of the day, as Turkey’s cadre of talented youngsters meet the Netherlands in what should be a goalfest. Here’s hoping.