Germany saved from the floods: Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala sent the Euro 2024 host country into the quarter-finals at the end of a tense match against Denmark (2-0), interrupted by a violent storm, on Saturday in Dortmund.
For the first time since 2016, the Nationalmannschaft will play a quarter-final of a major tournament, against Spain or Georgia on Sunday, July 5 in Stuttgart.
But before ending a calamitous series of three tournaments interrupted in the group stage (World Cup 2018 and 2022) or in the round of 16 (Euro 2021), Julian Nagelsmann’s players came very close to another disappointment.
If Havertz, from the penalty spot (53rd), and Musiala, taking advantage of a rare error by the impeccable Kasper Schmeichel (68th), wrote a new page in this new summer fairy tale, in reference to the “Sommermärchen” of the 2006 World Cup which still makes Germany shudder, Joachim Andersen was the unfortunate hero.
The Danish defender initially thought he had given his team the lead by sending the ball, which had been poorly cleared by the German defence, into Manuel Neuer’s goal (51st minute).
After a long interruption to consult the VAR, the goal was finally invalidated for offside to the great relief of the German supporters, still in shock.
But Andersen’s bad scores were not over: on the next action, forty seconds later, he diverted a German cross with his hand and offered a penalty to the Nationalmannschaft, transformed into a corner by Havertz (52nd) .
Interruption de 25 minutes
Seven minutes later, the Arsenal attacking midfielder, left alone on the right flank, narrowly missed doubling the lead in the 59th minute. It was ultimately Musiala, on a solitary raid, who, taking advantage of Schmeichel’s hesitation, ensured the German victory and qualification.
In addition to Andersen’s denied opening goal, Denmark sent shivers down the spines of the Westfalenstadion at the end of the first half when Rasmus Hojlund, released by Thomas Delaney, found himself alone in front of Neuer.
But the indestructible German goalkeeper intervened, as he saved his team by deflecting a shot from Hojlund (66th).
Germany could have avoided such a tense scenario if they had capitalised on their excellent first quarter of an hour in a one-sided manner.
But the 2014 world champions came up against Schmeichel, who was excellent on a shot from Joshua Kimmisch (6th), vigilant on a lobbed header from Nico Schlotterbeck (7th) and decisive on a volley from Kay Harvetz on the run (10th).
It was not until the 21st minute that the Danes showed their face, first through Christian Eriksen (21st), then through Joakim Maehle whose shot grazed Manuel Neuer’s crossbar (24th).
After the German lightning and the Danish clearing, a violent storm hit Dortmund, forcing the match referee to send the two teams to the locker room for twenty-five minutes.
If the sky remained black and the thunder continued to rumble above Dortmund, for the Nationalmannschaft which dreams of a fourth European coronation on July 14 in Berlin, everything is looking good. At least until July 5.
