A stoppage-time goal from Niclas Fuellkrug saw Germany secure a 1-1 draw against Switzerland to finish at the top of the Euro 2024 Group A standings.

After 28 minutes, Dan Ndoye stunned the home team with a close-range goal to give the Swiss the lead.

In an attempt to tie the score late on, Germany took a number of chances, and seasoned scorer Fuellkrug came through, scoring in the second minute of stoppage time.

Due to the outcome, Switzerland will likely face holders Italy or 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in the round of 16, rather than Germany.

Denmark presently has second place in England’s Group C, where the Germans are expected to play.

“I think the equaliser was deserved, as was the group win. We threw a lot forward at the end,” said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

“The cross was perfect. That was a nice moment for us as a team, that could be decisive. That changes the situation,” Fuellkrug told ARD.

The hosts went into the game feeling as though they had turned the corner after nearly ten years of heartbreak at big events, including two group stage losses from the World Cup and a last-six elimination from the Euros.

Germany’s seasoned midfield, which included Toni Kroos and captain Ilkay Gundogan, won their opening two games against Scotland and Hungary.

Nonetheless, Germany was unprepared for Switzerland’s vigour and was unable to create many clear-cut opportunities.

After the stodgy performance, Nagelsmann will have a lot to think about despite Fuellkrug’s tardy rescue attempt.

Even though Nagelsmann was already guaranteed a spot in the round of sixteen, he chose to stick with the same starting lineup for the third game in a row.

defender Jonathan Tah, who received his second yellow card of the group stage and will miss Germany’s opening elimination match, may have regretted his choice.

“The yellow card for Tah was unjustified, which is annoying. But we have enough quality to compensate for that,” Nagelsmann said.

Driven by a loud and hopeful home crowd, Germany got off to a fast start, creating a few half-chances through long balls over Switzerland’s middle defence.

After 16 minutes, Yann Sommer appeared to have put Germany ahead through a well-executed long-range shot from Robert Andrich that ricocheted past the custodian and into the net.

However, VAR reversed the goal after determining that Jamal Musiala had fouled in the build-up.

Despite being behind early on, the Swiss eventually gained the lead at the 28-minute mark, thanks to some careless play by Joshua Kimmich and Musiala.

In his own half, Musiala mishandled the ball, allowing Switzerland to score. After winning, Kimmich gave up the ball, which allowed Remo Freuler to locate Ndoye, who extended his leg and kicked it into the goal.

Germany was uneasy after conceding a goal that caused them to trail for the first time in the tournament, and they were progressively more hesitant to finish the first half.

Nagelsmann made a number of offensive substitutions as Germany launched an onslaught in the second half, but the home team faced a Swiss team that was tenaciously defending their advantage and created few real opportunities.

With 20 minutes left, Man City defender Manuel Akanji stretched out to thwart Kimmich at point-blank range.

With 14 minutes remaining, Nagelsmann introduced Fuellkrug from the bench, and the Borussia Dortmund striker took the ball and headed home a cross from David Raum to put Germany back on top of the group.

Photo by Euro 2024 Twitter