Germany advanced to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a 2-0 win against Denmark in Dortmund on Saturday night.
Two second-half goals ensured the hosts progressed to the last eight, taking advantage after the Danes had a strike of their own controversially ruled out.
With 35 minutes on the clock, referee Michael Oliver suspended play due to a lightning storm, but the match continued soon after when the heavy rain cleared.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side will face either Spain or Georgia in the next round, with their potential opponents due to play on Sunday.
How the game unfolded
After only four minutes, Germany thought they went in front. Nico Schlotterbeck headed home from a corner, but the goal was chalked off as Joshua Kimmich was judged to have illegally blocked off Andreas Skov Olsen from reaching the ball first
Kasper Schmeichel soon after had to get down low to deny a fine volley from Kai Havertz as the hosts’ fast start continued.
Denmark’s first opening came when Joachim Andersen picked out Christian Eriksen with a sensational ball over the top. His first touch was exquisite, but Antonio Rudiger made a last-ditch block to deny him.
Eriksen then turned provider for Joakim Maehle, whose shot from a tight angle whistled past the post.
After play resumed following the pause for the lightning storm, Schmeichel made a fine instinctive save to deny Havertz, who rose highest to meet a wicked David Raum cross.
Germany could have been made to pay when Schlotterbeck was dispossessed in his own box by Rasmus Hojlund, who raced to the touchline before firing a shot into the side-netting.
Another chance went begging when Germany were caught high up the pitch and released Skov Olsen on the counter. His ball inside beat Rudiger and rolled into Hojlund’s path, but Manuel Neuer was quick off his line to deflect his dink to safety.
Within three minutes of the restart, Denmark had the ball in the net. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s floated cross took several deflections before falling kindly for Andersen to bundle in. However, after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was disallowed for offside.
Moments later, VAR recommended a review after the ball struck Andersen’s hand while trying to defend a Raum cross, and referee Oliver pointed to the penalty spot. Havertz stepped up and found the bottom corner to put Germany ahead.
Havertz should have had a second soon after when he looped the ball away from two retreating Danish defenders with a magnificent piece of skill and sprinted through to goal, only for his chipped finish to land wide of the post.
Down the other end, Hojbjerg found Hojlund advancing into the box, but his driven effort was straight at Neuer.
And Denmark were made to pay for that wastefulness when Musiala doubled Germany’s lead with their next attack. Schlotterbeck’s clever ball around the back of the Denmark defence rolled into Musiala’s path, and he made no mistake when one-on-one with Schmeichel.
Substitute Florian Wirtz thought he’d added a third in stoppage time, but he was way offside and Germany had to settle for just the two-goal victory.
GK: Manuel Neuer – 6/10 – Came up with some important saves and his quick decisions to come off his line benefitted the team.
RB: Joshua Kimmich – 6/10 – Most of Denmark’s best chances came down Kimmich’s side and he failed to cope with their overloads. Tidy in possession at least.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 8/10 – Went to great lengths to ensure his clean sheet remained in tact with a series of excellent tackles and blocks. A monstrous performance from someone who was an injury doubt for much of the week.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck – 7/10 – A little suspect defensively but his proficiency in possession led to Germany’s second goal. A tad unlucky to have had his own effort ruled out.
LB: David Raum – 7/10 – Came in for Mittelstadt and took his chance to impress. Constantly got down the left flank to give Musiala support and put in teasing crosses.
CM: Robert Andrich – 6/10 – Got stuck in and also came up with the odd lengthy pass.
CM: Toni Kroos – 6/10 – Slightly sloppier than usual in midfield in the first half when Germany were loose in transition, but settled back into his role after the break.
RW: Leroy Sane – 5/10 – Carried the ball at great length but was often caught out for keeping hold of it for a little to long.
AM: Ilkay Gundogan – 5/10 – Popped up in space linking play but didn’t have a sustained impact on the game.
LW: Jamal Musiala – 8/10 – Drifted inside to allow Raum the space to operate on the wing. Nullified for stretches of the game but broke free to score the clinching goal.
CF: Kai Havertz – 7/10 – The best and worst of Havertz was on display. Took his penalty superbly, carved out chances for himself, demonstrated great skill, but the final touches in open play were often missing.
Substitutes
SUB: Emre Can (64′ for Andrich) – 6/10
SUB: Niclas Fullkrug (64′ for Gundogan) – 6/10
SUB: Benjamin Henrichs (80′ for Raum) – 6/10
SUB: Florian Wirtz (80′ for Musiala) – 6/10
SUB: Waldemar Anton (88′ for Sane) – N/A
Subs not used: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK), Oliver Baumann (GK), Maximilian Mittelstadt, Robin Koch, Pascal Gross, Thomas Muller, Chris Fuhrich, Maximilian Beier, Deniz Undav
Manager
Julian Nagelsmann – 6/10 – Germany played with real intensity again but their defensive lapses will be punished by better teams.
GK: Kasper Schmeichel – 7/10 – Made some important saves in the first half when Denmark were under the cosh and in need of half-time.
CB: Joachim Andersen – 6/10 – The unlucky antagonist of the evening, harshly denied a first international goal and even more cruelly conceded a penalty. Germany looked to float passes over his head all night, however.
CB: Jannik Vestergaard – 6/10 – Didn’t look out of place at this level, which is probably the most you could have asked from him in a knockout tie against Germany.
CB: Andreas Christensen – 6/10 – Got physical with Havertz in the first half. Hooked late on as Denmark went in search of an unlikely comeback.
RM: Alexander Bah – 5/10 – A nervy start up against Raum and Musiala but was more comfortable when Denmark had the ball.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 6/10 – Denmark’s source of inspiration in midfield, breaking up play and moving possession forward.
CM: Thomas Delaney – 4/10 – Couldn’t keep up with the pace of the game. Morten Hjulmand was sorely missed.
LM: Joakim Maehle – 5/10 – Like Bah wasn’t cut out defensively but proved his use in Germany’s third of the pitch.
AM: Andreas Skov Olsen – 5/10 – Made an opening for Hojlund in the first half but that was the extent of his involvement.
AM: Christian Eriksen – 6/10 – Everything good the Danes did came through Eriksen, who relished taking responsibility even on a fruitless evening.
CF: Rasmus Hojlund – 4/10 – Far too rash with his decision-making and you just didn’t back him to convert any of his chances. Should be better for this experience at 21 years of age.
Substitutes
SUB: Christian Norgaard (69′ for Delaney) – 5/10
SUB: Yussuf Poulsen (69′ for Skov Olsen) – 5/10
SUB: Jonas Wind (81′ for Hojlund) – 5/10
SUB: Jacob Bruun Larsen (81′ for Christensen) – 5/10
SUB: Victor Kristiansen (81′ for Bah) – 5/10
Subs not used: Mads Hermansen (GK), Frederik Ronnow (GK), Simon Kjaer, Zanka, Mikkel Damsgaard, Ramsus Kristensen, Mathias Jensen, Kasper Dolberg, Anders Dreyer
Manager
Kasper Hjulmand – 6/10 – Denmark competed as well as they could but it wasn’t to be. Arguably should have been more positive with his substitutes at 1-0.
Player of the match – Antonio Rudiger (Germany)
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