STUTTGART, Germany — Substitute Mikel Merino headed Spain into the semifinals of the European Championship as they snatched a 2-1 win over Germany in extra time on Friday.

Florian Wirtz’s equalizer in the last minute of regulation time sent the gripping quarterfinal to extra time after Dani Olmo — who set up Merino’s winner — netted the opener early in the second half.

“It was the game we expected,” Merino said, “because we were facing one of the best teams in the world. This could have been a final, and it sure played out that way. This was a game between elite teams, a constant back and forth, and we showed that we have a great team.”

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

The result ended the career of Germany’s Toni Kroos, who announced he would retire at the end of the tournament.

The quarterfinal pitted the teams who have played the best soccer 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.

Another hefty challenge moments later saw Pedri leave the field injured and in tears as he was replaced by Olmo in the eighth minute, the fastest replacement in the history of the Euros.

From the resulting free kick, Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest ever goal-scorer 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.

Substitute Nico Füllkrug hit the post in a late desperate onslaught by Germany, which was rewarded just in the nick of time.

Joshua Kimmich nodded Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross back to Wirtz, whose effort went in off the far post.

Both teams had more chances to win in extra time before Merino leapt high to head in Olmo’s cross and send the Spanish fans behind the goal into a frenzy.

In a thrilling match that had fans on the edge of their seats, Spain secured a spot in the semi-finals of the European Championship with a dramatic extra-time victory over Germany. The hero of the night was midfielder Mikel Merino, whose late goal sealed the win for the Spanish team.

The match started off with both teams playing cautiously, feeling each other out and trying to establish control of the game. Germany had the first clear chance of the match, with Timo Werner forcing a save from Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon. However, Spain quickly settled into their rhythm and began to dominate possession, creating several scoring opportunities of their own.

As the game progressed, both teams continued to push forward in search of the opening goal. Germany’s defense held firm, frustrating Spain’s attacking players and preventing them from finding the back of the net. The tension in the stadium was palpable as the clock ticked down towards the end of regular time, with neither team able to break the deadlock.

As the match entered extra time, it was clear that something special would be needed to separate the two sides. And that moment came in the 100th minute, when Mikel Merino rose highest to meet a corner kick and powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net. The Spanish fans erupted in celebration, knowing that their team was now just moments away from securing a place in the semi-finals.

Despite a late surge from Germany in search of an equalizer, Spain held on to claim a hard-fought victory and advance to the next round of the tournament. The players and coaching staff were jubilant at the final whistle, knowing that they had overcome a tough opponent in Germany to keep their European Championship dreams alive.

The performance of Mikel Merino will be remembered as one of the standout moments of the match, as his late goal proved to be the difference between the two teams. His composure and determination in front of goal were crucial in securing the victory for Spain and sending them through to the semi-finals.

As Spain now prepares to face their next opponent in the semi-finals, they will take confidence from their hard-fought victory over Germany and look to build on their momentum as they continue their quest for European Championship glory. The fans will be eagerly anticipating another thrilling performance from their team as they look to make history in the tournament.