- K. Havertz 53'
- J. Musiala 68'
- R. Freuler 37'
- R. Vargas 46'
Germany 2
Denmark 0
BVB Stadion Dortmund
Germany 2 Denmark 0
BVB Stadion Dortmund, June 29
⚽️ IBO Report: With grateful thanks to Reuters
(Reuters) - Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala's second-half goals sent Germany into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark on Saturday after their last-16 clash was delayed by a thunderstorm.
The game was suspended for 20 minutes in the first half due to the weather before Danish defender Joachim Andersen went from hero to zero when his close-range finish was disallowed for offside, and he conceded a penalty converted by Havertz in the 53rd minute.
Nico Schlotterbeck earlier had a goal ruled out for a foul in the build-up as Germany started strongly in front of an expectant crowd, but Denmark grew into the game and went close either side of halftime.
The hosts established an unassailable lead in the 68th minute, however, when Musiala ran on to a ball over the top and curled home his third goal of the tournament to put Germany into the last eight, where they will face Spain or Georgia.
Musiala equalled Georgia's Georges Mikautadze as Euro 2024 top-scorer with three goals, as Germany recorded their first major tournament knockout win for eight years after being eliminated in the group stage at the last two World Cups and in the Euro 2020 last 16.
Germany started the game fast, and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was forced to make several saves as Denmark struggled to create any type of combinations, barely crossing the halfway line in the first 15 minutes.
Buried deep with a back five that was trying to survive Germany’s onslaught, Denmark were lucky to avoid conceding in the opening half an hour. They grew into the game, however, and Christian Eriksen almost scored from a counter-attack before the match was suspended in the 35th minute due to lightning and thunder as torrential rain poured down at the Dortmund BVB Stadion.
The game was stopped for over 20 minutes when referee Michel Oliver ordered the players to return to the pitch for a brief warm-up, and Germany almost scored when Havertz’s header was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel. Denmark thought they had taken the lead when Andersen fired in a loose ball inside the box after a free kick, but the effort was ruled out by the VAR.
Three minutes later, VAR intervened again to flag to the referee a handball inside the box by Andersen, who accidentally touched David Raum's cross with his right hand.
Havertz scored with a tidy finish as the stadium exploded in joy and, with Denmark chasing an equaliser, they were often exposed to counter-attacks and Havertz and Leroy Sane missed good close-range chances.
Musiala did not waste his opportunity, however, as he burst on to a long pass and placed a calm finish past Schmeichel to secure Germany's place in the quarter-finals, where they will play Spain or Georgia.
Germany could have won by a larger margin, but Florian Wirtz had a late effort ruled out for offside, and Schmeichel made a fine save to deny Havertz from close range.
"It feels really good," Germany defender and player of the match Antonio Rudiger told German television station ZDF.
"I think everybody who watched the match will be of the opinion that we were dominant from the start. The only criticism you can have is that we missed too many chances."
Switzerland 2
Italy 0
Olympiastadion Berlin
⚽️ IBO Reporter: Spot51
Teams
|I covered the Swiss through Group A and was well used to their “flexible” 3-4-3. Schar and Akanji are the heart of their defence, but Rodriguez (a full-back by trade) gets to overlap beyond Aebischer down the left or move alongside Freuler and Zhaka, creating midfield overloads. At the front they perm 3 from 6 mobile forwards (and sometimes Shaqiri) who all seem capable of playing left, right or centre.
Italy has seen a changing of the guard and erratic form in the past decade. Champions at Euro 2020/1, they failed to qualify for the World Cups before and after. The current side is younger and sufficiently interesting for Luciano Spalletti to cut short his post-Napoli sabbatical. Most of his squad are home-based. With Spain beating all comers to earn 9 points, a win and a draw were enough to see Italy to this stage. Having played 4-3-3 twice, their last game saw Italy go 3-5-2.
So one Swiss change, with Vargas returning and N’Doye dropping back to wing back following Widner’s suspension. The Italians made 6 changes, 2 enforced. Calafiori’s suspension and DiMarco’s injury saw them ditch 3-5-2 and go 4-3-3, with DiLorenzo dropping back to right back alongside Mancini in the middle. Out went Jorgininho, Pellegrini, Retegui and Raspadori, with Fagioli and Cristante coming into midfield and a replacement front 3 of Chiesa, Scamacca and El Shaawary. Today’s Ref, Mr Marciniak of Poland, was in charge of the 2022 World Cup and 2023 ECL finals.
Report
|Both sides wore their proper colours before 70K fans in 29C heat. The match began as it mostly carried on, the Swiss keeping the ball, passing, and moving, and Italy’s high press unable to close them down. Switzerland bossed the game till an N’Doye error let in El Shaarawy. The speed with which the youngster got back to recover the ball indicated how fired up he and his team were.
Vargas gave Di Lorenzo a torrid time on Switzerland’s left. He kept feinting to come inside before flying down the wing and getting crosses over. The Azzurri were sinking backwards under the constant pressure with Scamacca their only outball when they recovered possession. They had another scare when Barella limped off for treatment but the Inter man was able to rejoin shortly after.
70% possession and camped in the other half; the Swiss just needed to create chances. One opportunity went west when Aebischer flighted a free kick too close to Donnarumma, who gratefully collected. On 17m, Fagioli carried Italy forward, and the move resulted in a corner off Akanji. It came to nothing.
Encouraged, Italy got forward again on 21m, and El Shaawary was felled by Xhaka. Barella chipped the free kick over the wall where Di Lorenzo tried to volley the dropping ball. The contact wasn’t great, but he looked offside anyway. Otherwise the script still read - Switzerland still dominating without finding that final pass.
Finally, a clever dink forward by Rieder saw Embolo running into space. He tried to slip his shot beyond the keeper, but a big glove reached out to steer it away. Good save from Italy’s captain. Both sides had further chances, but neither keeper was tested.
From the half-hour, the Swiss became more dominant, and Italy had 9 back defending. Barella became the first name in the book for his late tackle on Xhaka. Then, on 37m, the dam finally gave way.
A speculative ball forward to Embolo found right-wing-back N’Doye alongside the striker. He took it left and fed Vargas on the wing. Continuing his run behind Vargas and down the touchline, Di Lorenzo decided to twist and track his run. With time to look up, Vargas saw the late arrival of Freuler and played the ball into his path. His first touch with his right boot wasn’t the greatest, but his second, a left-foot volley as the ball dropped, flew past Donnarumma. 1-0 and TBF, no one could be surprised. Italy had looked like a team paying for penalties, but that ship just sailed.
Italy did respond but were just not at it. They won a free kick in a decent position, but the cross hit the 1st defender. Anything that did look dangerous was swept up by Schar or Akanji with Sommer watching on. Di Lorenzo’s day might have got even worse when he fell awkwardly, twisting his ankle. After some magic spray, he was able to carry on.
El Shaarawy lost his rag as Schar nicked the ball, hacked the Mag down and went into the book. We were now playing +3m, and Donnarumma kept Italy in the game with a fabulous save. Italy conceded a free kick wide right and Rieder who plays for Rennes fancied his chances against PSG’s #1. With the big guys up, he curled a dipping shot just inside the front stick but the big feller dived to turn it away. The Ref spotted a foul by an attacker as the corner came in before blowing for HT. 1-0 somewhat flattered the Italians.
Only El Shaarawy was hooked for the 2nd half with Lazio’s Zaccagni coming on. Italy kicked off and Fagioli’s under-hit pass was intercepted. Xhaka and Aebischer worked the ball down the left and Vargas trotted infield. Aebischer recognised the Augsburg man was not marked and played him in. One stride took Vargas into the box from where he curled a beautiful strike beyond the giant keeper’s dive.
After just 27sec, Italy were now 2-0. If this were Boxing the Referee would have been able to justify stopping it. One combatant looked incapable of defending themself. I believe it was at this point that Micah Richards decided England were NOT in the easy half of the draw.
Italy set about trying to get back in the match and almost got unexpected assistance from the Swiss. Fagioli dinked a pass over the Swiss defenders. No one was chasing it, and Sommer took a step to his right to collect. Schar, however, felt he had to intervene and, moving backwards, headed the ball the other way. Sommer watched as the ball bounced off his left post. Chiesa, who’d run past Schar, was first to the ball, but his cross flew across the area where no other blue shirt had arrived.
Italy carried on but their efforts to get forward left bigger areas the Swiss could exploit. Mancini got the unluckiest card of the day from a coming together with Aebischer, which was, at best, a 50/50. On a sultry evening, the Italians began to flag while the Swiss allowed the ball to do much of their work. On the hour, N’Doye seemed so bored he let fly from range and the ball went way too high.
Barella had worked hard throughout and, on 64m, was withdrawn. On came Genoa striker Rettegui to join Scamacca up front in a 4-4-2. Things got no easier though as both Swiss wide men dropped back without the ball into a 4-5-1 with Embolo in the centre circle waiting to sprint forward.
Italy got the odd shot away and won corners but never seemed to trouble the Swiss. With no need to do much attacking they began to ping the ball around in their own half to the rapturous “Oles” of their delighted fans. A free kick on the right gave Rieder another chance to shoot. He stuck this one over the bar.
That was his last contribution. He and Vargas came off, replaced by Zuber and Stergiou. On 73m Italy finally got a shot on target when Retegui’s effort was saved by Sommer. Three minutes on, a ball lofted into the Swiss box was headed square by Zaccagni. It reached Scamacca who stuck out a boot but again it came back off the post. One or both might have been offside but there was no flag and the Swiss cleared.
Italy’s next changes saw Cambiaso and Pellegrini replace Darmian and Cristatante before Embolo and N’Doye were substituted by Duah and Sierro. The Swiss changes gave them renewed energy, and Sierro forced a corner off Bastioni. When it came over, Sierro laid it back for Freuler, but this time, his effort sailed over the top.
As Italy pushed everyone else forward it was just Bastoni close to Duah on the halfway line watching a defending masterclass from Schar, Akanji and Rodriguez. The best chances were still coming for Switzerland. Xhaka led a raid upfield and put Zuber in on goal. He shot from an acute angle but missed the far post.
At the other end Retegui did well to beat his man and play the ball into the box. Not a single blue shirt had got in there. In their next attack. Pellegrini looked up, saw no runners and launched it into the stand. Another attacker, Napoli’s Frattesi, came on for Fagioli, which seemed to signal the start of the Swiss fans’ celebrations.
These may have quickly ended had VAR confirmed a handball appeal in the Swiss box, but VAR saw nothing untoward. Nothing much happened in the added time beyond Aebischer being replaced by Steffan. That was that. Two nil has rarely looked that much of a thrashing.
Afterwards, there were suggestions that the Italians “did not look fit enough.” FIFA would point out that they still play 38 top-division matches, not the recommended 34, and are therefore disadvantaged.
Switzerland has a mix of players from Germany & France (34) and Italy & EPL (38). Few of them seemed to lack the energy to compete. They are a well-drilled and talented bunch led on the pitch by serial winner Granit Xhaka, enjoying the season of his life. Watch out England!