Germany Survives Denmark Advances into Euro 2024 Final Eight
Germany advanced to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Denmark on Saturday, thanks to second-half goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala. The round-of-16 clash, held at Dortmund’s BVB Stadion, faced an unexpected delay due to a thunderstorm, but the hosts ultimately emerged triumphant.
The match started with Germany firmly in control. Denmark’s goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, was called into action early and often, making several crucial saves as his team struggled to get out of their own half. The Danish side, adopting a defensive stance with a back five, found themselves pinned deep as Germany pressed for an opening goal.
Despite Germany’s dominance, Denmark managed to grow into the game, with Christian Eriksen nearly scoring from a counter-attack. However, in the 35th minute, the match was suspended due to lightning and thunder, with torrential rain pouring down on the stadium. The interruption lasted for over 20 minutes, during which time the players returned to the locker rooms before re-emerging for a brief warm-up.
Upon resumption, Germany almost took the lead when Havertz’s header was superbly saved by Schmeichel, keeping the scoreline level at halftime.
The second half began with renewed intensity. Danish defender Joachim Andersen experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, first having a close-range finish disallowed for offside before conceding a penalty minutes later. VAR intervened to flag a handball by Andersen inside the box, leading to a penalty which Havertz converted in the 53rd minute, sending the German crowd into raptures.
Denmark, in pursuit of an equalizer, left themselves vulnerable to Germany’s counter-attacks. Havertz and Leroy Sané both missed close-range chances to double Germany’s lead. However, in the 68th minute, Musiala capitalized on a long pass, expertly controlling the ball before curling it past Schmeichel to seal the victory.
Germany’s 2-0 win sets up a quarterfinal clash against either Spain or Georgia. The victory showcased Germany’s resilience and ability to navigate challenging conditions, while Denmark will be left to rue their missed opportunities and VAR decisions that swung the game in their opponents’ favor.
Germany’s performance in the tournament continues to impress, and fans will be eager to see if they can maintain their momentum against tougher opponents in the knockout stages.
