A Kai Havertz penalty and a Jamal Musiala strike gave Germany a 2-0 win over Denmark because the host nation reached the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after a dramatic recreation that was delayed by virtually half an hour within the first half as a consequence of a violent storm.
Havertz stroked house from the spot early within the second half in Dortmund following a handball by Joachim Andersen, the unfortunate Danish defender who had a objective disallowed on the different finish solely moments earlier.
Musiala, of Bayern Munich, then ran away to stroke within the second objective halfway by way of the second half as Germany’s class advised.
At one level it regarded as if the sport might be deserted as English referee Michael Oliver stopped play within the thirty fifth minute of the primary half and took the groups off the pitch whereas a violent storm handed overhead.
Torrential rain, hailstones, excessive winds, thunder and lightning triggered a break in play of 25 minutes earlier than the motion may resume.
It made for a memorable evening, and one which ended with the host nation coming by way of a stern check of their credentials to maintain alive their dream of profitable the trophy in Berlin on July 14.
The trail is about to get a lot harder from right here, nevertheless, and Julian Nagelsmann’s crew will now go to Stuttgart for a quarter-final subsequent Friday towards both much-fancied Spain or shock package deal Georgia.
In the meantime Denmark, who famously beat Germany within the 1992 European Championship remaining, go house with out profitable a recreation — that they had certified from their group with three attracts.
Nagelsmann made three modifications to the Germany aspect following their final outing, a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Nico Schlotterbeck changed the suspended Jonathan Tah in central defence, David Raum got here in at left-back, and Leroy Sane was most popular to Florian Wirtz on the correct wing.
Schlotterbeck, of Borussia Dortmund, thought he had given Germany the lead inside 4 minutes when he headed in a nook in entrance of the large South Stand.
He ran off in celebration, however the objective was disallowed as a consequence of a foul by Joshua Kimmich.
• Denmark’s Andersen out of luck –
It threatened to change into a irritating evening for the house crew as they had been then thwarted on a number of events by Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
He tipped over a rasping drive by Kimmich and turned a Havertz volley across the put up because the Danes weathered the early storm.
One other one was coming, and when the motion ultimately restarted with the pitch now sodden, Germany shortly cranked up the stress once more.
A Raum cross from the left was met by the top of Havertz, however Schmeichel –- whose father performed in that 1992 remaining — was as soon as once more readily available to make a great save.
The Danes did pose a risk on the break as they attacked in direction of their very own supporters, however Rasmus Hojlund hit the side-netting after catching Schlotterbeck in possession, after which noticed Manuel Neuer come out and save at his ft.
The sport was interrupted once more for the half-time break, earlier than Denmark –- and Andersen specifically — had been left to rue two VAR interventions originally of the second half.
First, on 48 minutes, Andersen thought he had scored when he fired in because the ball broke to him within the field, however the VAR crew advised the referee to rule out the objective due to an offside towards Thomas Delaney, who had supplied the help.
As quickly as play resumed, Germany attacked and a Raum cross deflected off the outstretched hand of Andersen within the space.
The Crystal Palace participant’s offence was penalised following one other test, and Havertz scored his second penalty of the competitors.
Havertz and Sane missed nice possibilities to make it 2-0 earlier than Musiala latched onto a easy ball excessive and ran by way of to internet his third objective of the Euros to change into the joint-top scorer alongside Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze.
Wirtz, on from the bench, had a late objective that might have made it 3-0 disallowed for offside, however Germany have momentum and can take some stopping now.
AFP