Germany secured their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after claiming a 2-0 victory over Denmark in a controversial clash at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.
Early in the second half in Dortmund, Havertz scored from the penalty spot when Joachim Andersen, the unfortunate Danish defender who had only moments before had a goal disallowed, committed a handball.
Midway through the second half, Bayern Munich’s Musiala scored his second goal, demonstrating Germany’s superiority in the round of 16.
When English referee Michael Oliver halted play in the 35th minute and removed the teams off the field as a strong storm passed overhead, it appeared as though the game may be called off.
The action was delayed for twenty-five minutes due to torrential rain, hailstones, strong gusts, thunder, and lightning.
It was an unforgettable evening that culminated in the host country passing a rigorous qualification process to maintain their hopes of taking home the trophy on July 14 in Berlin.
But things will get harder from here on out. Julian Nagelsmann’s team will now travel to Stuttgart for a quarterfinal matchup against either highly anticipated Spain or unexpected Georgia next Friday.
“In the end, it was a game full of adversity. We fought well against the adversity,” Germany coach Nagelsmann told broadcaster Magenta.
“We’re playing with euphoria, we’re playing with fun and that’s when football is the most beautiful,” added defender Nico Schlotterbeck.
Denmark, who notably defeated Germany in the European Championship final in 1992, was eliminated from the competition after three draws in their group.
Their coach, Kasper Hjulmand, expressed dissatisfaction with the two significant VAR rulings that were not in his favour.
“It’s not how we are supposed to be using VAR. It’s one centimetre,” he said of the offside against Andersen.
“And one minute later there was a penalty, I’m so tired of the ridiculous handball rules.”
After Germany’s previous match, a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, Nagelsmann made three changes to the team.
David Raum took over as left back in place of the suspended Jonathan Tah, while Leroy Sane started on the right wing instead of Florian Wirtz.
Within four minutes, Borussia Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck thought he had given Germany the lead when he headed in a corner and went off in celebration, but Joshua Kimmich’s foul caused the goal to be disallowed.
The home team’s night could have turned into a miserable one as Danish custodian Kasper Schmeichel repeatedly stopped them.
As the Danes survived the early storm, he turned a Havertz volley around the post and tipped over a Kimmich drive.
When the action finally resumed with the pitch soaked, Germany rapidly up the pressure once more. There was another one on the way.
Havertz’s head met a Raum cross, but Schmeichel, whose father participated in that 1992 final, was once more on hand to make a superb save.
While Rasmus Hojlund caught Schlotterbeck in possession and saw Manuel Neuer make a stop at his feet, the Danes posed a threat on the break as they attacked towards their own supporters.
Before Denmark, and Andersen in particular, were left to lament two VAR interventions at the start of the second half, the game was again paused for halftime.
First, Andersen scored on 48 minutes when the ball broke to him in the box, but Thomas Delaney was offside, therefore the VAR crew instructed the referee to deny the goal.
Play immediately resumed, and Germany attacked, deflecting a Raum cross off Andersen’s outstretched palm in the area.
After yet another check, the Crystal Palace player’s infraction was punished, and Havertz scored his second penalty of the match.
Prior to Musiala latching onto a ball over the top and scoring his third goal of the Euros to tie Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze for top scorer, Havertz and Sane squandered excellent opportunities to make it 2-0.
Although substitute Wirtz’s late goal—which would have made it 3-0—was disallowed for offside, Germany is on the rise and won’t be easily stopped.
Photo by EPA/RONALD WITTEK
