Spain rallies past Germany, will face France in semifinals

Substitute Mikel Merino headed Spain into the semifinals of the European Championship as they snatched a 2-1 win over Germany in extra time on Friday in Stuttgart.

Florian Wirtz’s equalizer for Germany in the final minute of regulation time sent the gripping quarterfinal to extra time after Dani Olmo — who set up Merino’s match winner — netted the opener early in the second half.

“It was the game we expected,” Merino said, “because we were facing one of the best teams in the world. This could have been a final, and it sure played out that way. This was a game between elite teams, a constant back and forth, and we showed that we have a great team.”

Spain defender Dani Carvajal was sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card and will be suspended from Tuesday’s semifinal against France, which advanced later Friday. Fellow defender Robin le Normand also will miss that match after picking up another booking.

The result ended the career of Germany’s Toni Kroos, who had announced he would retire at the end of the tournament.

The quarterfinal pitted the teams who have played the best at Euro 2024, and it didn’t disappoint.

There was a blistering pace from the start, with crunching tackles and endto-end action.

Kroos was lucky not to be booked for a mistimed challenge that upended Spain midfielder Pedri. Another hefty challenge moments later saw Pedri leave the field injured and in tears as he was replaced by Olmo in the eighth minute, the fastest replacement in the history of the Euros.

From the resulting free kick, Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest ever goal-scorer at the tournament, but the 16-year-old’s shot flashed past the right post.

Both teams had more chances to win in extra time before Merino leapt high to head in Olmo’s cross and send the Spanish fans behind the goal into a frenzy.

France 0, Portugal 0 (5-3): France won in a penalty shootout to reach the Euro semifinals in Friday’s second game, advancing to face Spain and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid to win the title in his last appearance at the tournament.

After the game finished 0-0 following extra time, Joao Felix hit a post with a penalty kick in the shootout, and Theo Hernández converted the clinching kick.

France had lost in penalty shootouts at its past two major tournaments — in the final 16 at the Euros in 2021 and in the 2022 World Cup final.

Ronaldo, who is 39, has said this was his record sixth and final European Championship.

ANTONIO CALANNI/AP Mikel Merino of Spain scores the winner with a header in extra time Friday, lifting his team to a 2-1 victory over Germany and into the semifinals of the European Championship.