DPA
Dortmund
Hosts Germany needed a second-half Kai Havertz penalty and a Jamal Musiala goal to get past Denmark 2-0 in a storm-and-VAR-dominated Euro 2024 last-16 clash on Saturday.
It was a first knock-out win in eight years for Germany, who on Friday now face the winners of Sunday’s game between three-times champions Spain and tournament debutants Georgia.
The game was suspended for 30 minutes in the first half due to a huge thunderstorm after Germany had the lion’s share of the early chances. But in the second half, Joachim Andersen thought he had given Denmark the lead, only for VAR to spot a tight offside.
Soon afterwards on 53 minutes, the same player was adjudged to have handled in the box after a review and Havertz found the corner of the net beyond Kasper Schmeichel’s dispairing dive.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s superb long pass then released Musiala on 68 minutes and the mercurial playmaker made no mistake.
The last time Germany’s men played a major tournament game in Dortmund they lost the 2006 World Cup semi-final to Italy.
They have won a World Cup since but then flopped at the next two editions, as well as losing to England at this stage of the Euros three years ago.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men did not play at their very best but did enough to avenge
Denmark’s win in the final of Euro ‘92.
