Hosts Germany certified for the Euro 2024 quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Denmark in a storm-interrupted match whereas Switzerland despatched off reigning champions Italy on Saturday.
Two second-half targets, one a Kai Havertz penalty and one other a Jamal Musiala strike, allowed Germany to return out on high in Dortmund, the place the last-16 tie was halted for 25 minutes within the first half as a violent storm handed overhead.
English referee Michael Oliver was compelled to take the 2 groups off the pitch resulting from torrential rain, hailstones, excessive winds, thunder and lightning whereas some followers within the crowd of 60,000 discovered themselves caught beneath torrents of water streaming from the stadium roof.
Before that, Germany had an early Nico Schlotterbeck purpose disallowed for a foul and have been denied on a number of events by Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
When play resumed, Germany thought that they had fallen behind early within the second half when Joachim Andersen scored, however his effort was dominated out for offside following a VAR evaluate and the unlucky Danish defender was then penalized for a handball in his personal field moments later.
Havertz dispatched the spot-kick to place Germany forward within the 53rd minute and each he and Leroy Sane missed good alternatives earlier than Musiala ran clear to make it 2-0 halfway by the second half.
“It was a bit of a bizarre game,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann instructed broadcaster Magenta.
“The first 25 minutes have been our greatest of the event. Then we scored what I believe was a official purpose and (the referee) dominated it out which was petty.
“That kind of blocking happens at every corner. In England, where the referee is from, he would not blow the whistle for it. In the end, it was a game full of adversity. We fought well against the adversity.”
Germany might even have gained by a wider margin however Florian Wirtz, who began the sport as an alternative, had one other effort disallowed late on.
Nevertheless, a commanding victory takes the hosts by to a quarterfinal subsequent Friday in Stuttgart towards both much-fancied Spain or shock package deal Georgia.
“It feels very good. We were dominant from the start. This team shows good character, we can always come back, always give it our all. We still have three finals left,” stated defender Antonio Ruediger.
Denmark, in the meantime, go dwelling with out profitable a sport, having certified from their group by drawing all three matches.
Swiss on a roll
Earlier, Italy’s protection of their title led to underwhelming style as they deservedly misplaced to Switzerland, happening 2-0 on the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Ruben Vargas teed up Remo Freuler for Switzerland’s Thirty seventh-minute opener earlier than curling dwelling fantastically himself proper initially of the second half to deservedly double their lead.
Murat Yakın’s supremely well-drilled aspect, who held Germany to a draw within the group stage, outplayed the flat two-time champions and can face England or Slovakia within the subsequent spherical, subsequent Saturday in Duesseldorf.
“There are only good sides at the Euros, we went unbeaten in the group stage and played well, and the Germany game showed we can go toe-to-toe with teams like that,” Yakın instructed reporters.
“We despatched out an necessary sign tonight with the sport we performed.
“We did not only club together and defend as a unit and sit back, we showed we could attack and dominate proceedings.”
A brand new-look Italy, quick on star energy and with out most of the key figures that led them to Euro 2020 glory, supplied little in response to Switzerland’s energetic show.
“It hurts, it really hurts,” stated Italy’s captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“We can only say sorry to everyone, we were disappointing today and they deserved to win. We struggled all game long.”
The last-16 motion continues on Sunday as England tackle Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen earlier than Spain face Georgia in Cologne.
Source: www.dailysabah.com