Buts : Havertz (SP) (53e) et Musiala (68e) for Germany
Germany knew that now was the time to step up their game, because their Euro could not just end there and then, in the round of 16. The mission is partly accomplished, because even if this team is imperfect, still misses too many chances, concedes a lot too and could have even let this match slip away after the break, it was they who gorged themselves on the applause and chants of their tens of thousands of supporters at the final whistle, their dream of a home victory remaining intact.
Éclairs, Schmeichel and Hojlund
After the emotionless ousting of Italy an hour earlier, Germany was warned: even if Julian Nagelsmann’s team is at another level, no match will be easy from now on. The German coach had made strong choices for the occasion by inducting Leroy Sané in place of Florian Wirtz and maintaining his confidence in Kai Havertz at the expense of Niclas Füllkrug, who could make his debut in his garden at the Dortmund Stadion. But you have to believe that Nagelsmann has flair: from the start, his team is in it and above all incredibly dangerous from set pieces. Systematically, the Germans gain the upper hand over the Danes who are far too nice, and if Nicolas Schlotterbeck’s pawn is canceled for a foul by Joshua Kimmich on a corner taken by Toni Kroos, Kasper Schmeichel will have to pull out all the stops with a new shot. head of the Borussia Dortmund defender. The former OGC Nice goalkeeper is having a great night and his whole country is thanking him: he is very present on a heavy shot from Kimmich, as well as on this uncontrolled, slightly crushed recovery from Havertz or even a little later on a header from the scorer Gunners yet in an excellent position.
As the storm rose and the lightning appeared, Denmark regained its strength. Joachim Andersen made a magnificent opening, Christian Eriksen made a similarly impressive control, and it took a good recovery from Antonio Rüdiger to prevent Denmark from pulling off a great move. As the minutes ticked by, and it would continue after the game was interrupted due to the weather, the Danes would match their hosts, and Rasmus Hojlund would miss the opening goal twice. First by scraping a hot ball into the box at Schlotterbeck’s feet, only to send it into Manuel Neuer’s side netting. Then at the end of a classy counterattack, where he saw the German goalkeeper spring at his feet like a cheetah. At half-time, the suspense remained.
Havertz and Musiala take care of the qualifying
This is usually when these clashes tip over, because yes, this Germany-Denmark is indeed one. And as is often the case, it takes a stroke of luck for the game to unblock. On a ball that was hanging around in the German area, Andersen shoots Neuer and thinks he has opened the scoring with some extra teasing to boot. That was without counting on the salutary intervention of the VAR for the host country, who finds Delaney offside by a hair’s breadth. What happens next will surprise you: on the action that follows, David Raum sees his cross deflected by the hand… of Andersen. VAR in the other direction, penalty this time, Kai Havertz does not tremble (1-0, 53e). The blow is harsh for Kasper Hjulmand’s men who redouble their intensity, but also leave huge boulevards. Following a superb ball control, Havertz misses the break by not framing his little chipped ball in front of Schmeichel, while on a new breakthrough from the former Bayer Leverkusen player, Sané misses a ready-made goal despite being alone on the penalty spot.
We then say to ourselves that Germany may have wasted too much, and we are not far from the truth when Pierre-Emil Højbjerg finds Hojlund alone in the German area who, once again, comes up against Neuer. By dint of being polite, Germany will really take advantage: on a perfect opening from Schlotterbeck, Schmeichel hesitates to come out and leaves the way clear for Jamal Musiala who goes to finish the job (2-0, 68e). The end of the match was unbridled, Denmark gave everything to come back, but came up against a compact German defense which still missed one or two match points thanks to Havertz and Füllkrug. The matter is in the bag, and so the German summer continues despite the storms, the tremors, Denmark and the hail.
Euro 2024: Germany-Denmark interrupted
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