"Germany pain for sins against Pedri”, “Yamal has retired Kroos” - Fans react as hosts crash out of Euro 2024 after Spain seal win in extra-time
Spain sealed a historic win over Euro 2024 hosts Germany in extra time to send them packing in the quarter-finals on July 5 at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. Spain will now face the winner of today's clash between Portugal and France on July 10.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) have flooded the platform with reactions after Spain's iconic extra-time goal to seal the deal for Luis de la Fuente's men in Euro 2024. Some of their reactions are as follows:
"No way 2-1 Spain the last minutes of the game!! The absolute scenes. I love this sport. So unpredictable, the euros has been insane," commented one fan.
"2-1 Spain. Cry germany, cry," commented another Spanish fan.
"What a game of football. Viva españa," exclaimed another fan.
Many others commented on Toni Kroos' gameplay and the fact that this was his last match in his illustrious international career. Furthermore, the veteran midfielder committed several fouls throughout the match and was shown only one yellow card by the referees in the Euro 2024 clash. Many rival fans have opined that he deserved a sterner punishment.
"The only thing Kroos did was to push his hair back/2-1 Spain," quipped one fan.
"2-1 Spain, Merino , what a header, Germany are heading out and Toni Kroos career is over," declared another fan.
"Yamal has retired Kroos/Great stuff," said another netizen.
Others raved about the Spanish players and how they played such a crucial Euro 2024 game.
"MERINO YOU BEAUTIFUL JUGADOR ILYSM," exclaimed one fan.
"Dani Olmo is some player (and has been for a while)," commented another.
"Dani Olmo is MOTM against Germany," inferred one Spanish fan.
Finally, many German fans lauded their team and complained about the refereeing done in the game.
"I usually don't give a damn about football, but that should have been 2-1 germany. Not 2-1 spain winning. The ref is blind as [expletive]," commented one German fan.
Spain vs. Germany in Euro 2024 quarter-final went right down to the wire
The footballing fraternity across the globe was preparing for Spain's iconic clash with Euro 2024 hosts Germany in the quarter-final at the MHPArena. The match was as closely contested as expected with fine margins deciding the result at the end of it all.
Spain started with a bitter taste in their mouths as Pedri had to be substituted within the first 10 minutes courtesy of a rash tackle by Toni Kroos. However, his replacement Dani Olmo turned out to be one of the star performers for La Roja. He ended the match with one goal and one assist, winning the Player of the Match award.
Although the first half ended goalless, Spain found a chink in the German armor early on in the second half. An immaculate cross by Lamine Yamal found the feet of an approaching Dani Olmo. The Spaniard directed the ball away from Manuel Neuer's diving arms and made it 1-0 for his side in the 51st minute.
Germany equalized in the 89th minute of regulation time courtesy of a well-directed shot by Bundesliga winner Florian Wirtz which dragged the game to extra time. Dani Olmo conjured up his magic once again in the 119th minute. He produced an inch-perfect lobbed through ball into the penalty box. A jumping Mikel Merino did justice to Olmo's efforts and deposited the ball into Neuer's net.
With this win, Spain advanced into the semi-finals of Euro 2024 where they will be waiting for the victors of Portugal's clash against France.