Kai Havertz's penalty and Jamal Musiala's personal purpose helped Germany beat Denmark 2-0 on Saturday and the host nation attain the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after a dramatic first half that was delayed for nearly half an hour attributable to a violent storm. Havertz scored from the spot early within the second half in Dortmund following a handball by Joachim Andersen, the unlucky Danish defender who had a purpose disallowed on the different finish simply moments earlier.
Bayern Munich's Musiala scored a second purpose halfway by means of the second half to spotlight Germany's effective kind heading into the last-16 tie.
At one level it regarded as if the sport must be deserted, as English referee Michael Oliver stopped play within the thirty fifth minute and led the groups off the sphere whereas a fierce storm handed overhead.
Torrential rain, hail, excessive winds, thunder and lightning brought on a 25-minute delay within the begin of motion.
It was a memorable evening, culminating in a troublesome check of the host nation's credentials to maintain alive their dream of profitable the trophy in Berlin on July 14.
The highway will get harder from right here, although, and Julian Nagelsmann's facet now journey to Stuttgart subsequent Friday for the quarter-finals, the place they’ll face both much-fancied Spain or shock favourites Georgia.
“Ultimately, it was a recreation filled with adversity. We coped nicely with the adversity,” Germany coach Nagelsmann instructed broadcaster Magenta.
“We’re enjoying with ardour, we’re enjoying with enjoyable and that’s when soccer is essentially the most lovely,” defender Nico Schlotterbeck stated.
Denmark, who beat Germany within the 1992 European Championship ultimate, returned residence with out profitable a single match – they’d certified from their group with three attracts.
Their coach, Kasper Hjulmand, complained about two key VAR selections that went in opposition to his crew.
“We shouldn't use VAR like that. It's a centimetre,” he stated of the offside in opposition to Andersen.
“And a minute later there's a penalty, I'm so uninterested in the ridiculous handball guidelines.”
Nagelsmann made three modifications to Germany's squad after their earlier 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Schlotterbeck changed the suspended Jonathan Tah in defence, David Raum got here in at left again, and Leroy Sané was most well-liked over Florian Wirtz on the proper wing.
Borussia Dortmund's Schlotterbeck thought he had given Germany the lead inside 4 minutes when he smashed a header right into a nook and ran off in celebration, however the purpose was disallowed for a foul by Joshua Kimmich.
Denmark's Andersen has unhealthy luck
It proved to be a irritating evening for the house facet, as Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel thwarted their efforts on a number of events.
He tipped Kimmich's drive and turned Havertz's volley across the publish because the Danes weathered the early storm.
There was one other match to come back, and when play finally resumed attributable to a moist pitch, Germany instantly piled on the stress once more.
Raum's cross was blocked by Havertz's head, however Schmeichel – whose father performed within the 1992 ultimate – saved nicely once more.
Denmark created a menace with a giant assault on the stroke of half-time however Rasmus Hojlund misplaced possession to Sjotterbeck and hit the ball into the side-netting earlier than Manuel Neuer saved the ball together with his ft.
The sport was interrupted once more at half-time, after which Denmark – and Andersen particularly – have been left to rue two VAR interventions early within the second half.
First, within the forty eighth minute, Anderson scored when the ball got here to him within the field, however the VAR crew requested the referee to disallow the purpose attributable to offside in opposition to Thomas Delaney.
As quickly as play resumed, Germany attacked and Raum's cross hit Andersen's arm within the space and went out.
The Crystal Palace participant's offence was punished after one other verify, and Havertz scored his second penalty of the competitors.
Havertz and Sane missed a number of possibilities to make it 2-0 however Musiala headed the ball excessive to attain his third purpose of the Euros and develop into joint prime scorer with Georgia's Georges Mikotadze.
Substitute Wirtz scored a last-minute purpose that will have made it 3-0 however was dominated out for offside, however Germany have the momentum and will probably be onerous to cease.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Matters talked about on this article
