A dramatic goal by Mikel Merino in extra time gave Spain a thrilling 2-1 victory over Germany in the quarter-finals of the European Championship on Friday. The match, held at the Stuttgart Arena, featured a clash between two of the most successful nations in the tournament’s history.

As the game neared the 119th minute, with the prospect of a penalty shootout looming, substitute Merino rose to the occasion, heading in the winning goal from a precise Dani Olmo cross. This last-minute strike left the home crowd in Stuttgart heartbroken and secured Spain’s spot in the semi-finals.

The first half ended scoreless, but Spain took the lead six minutes into the second half when Olmo fired a first-time shot into the bottom corner. Germany, however, equalized in dramatic fashion with a goal from Florian Wirtz in the 89th minute, pushing the game into extra time.

Spain’s triumph marked a historic moment, as they became the first nation to eliminate the hosts at the quarter-final stage of the European Championship. Merino, who had a stint with Newcastle United during the 2017/18 season, was the hero with his crucial header.

Spain will now face either France or Portugal in the semi-finals, with their next match set for Tuesday night in Munich. Despite Germany’s relentless efforts to find a late equalizer, Spain’s defense held firm, securing their advancement to the last four.

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The UEFA European Championships 2024 group stage draw has been conducted, setting the stage for the tournament. The draw took place in Hamburg, and here are the groups:

Group A:
– Germany
– Hungary
– Scotland
– Switzerland

Group B:
– Spain
– Albania
– Croatia
– Italy

Group C:
– England
– Denmark
– Slovenia
– Serbia

Group D:
– France
– Austria
– Netherlands
– Play-off winner A (Poland, Estonia, Wales, or Finland)

Group E:
– Belgium
– Romania
– Slovakia
– Play-off winner B (Israel, Iceland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, or Ukraine)

Group F:
– Portugal
– Turkey
– Czech Republic
– Play-off winner C (Georgia, Luxembourg, Greece, or Kazakhstan)

The tournament is set to begin on June 14, 2024, with Germany hosting Scotland at the Allianz Arena at 8 p.m. BST. The top two teams from each group will advance to the last 16, joined by the four best third-place teams. The remaining three finalists will be confirmed in March after the conclusion of the play-offs.

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Antoine Griezmann has hailed three Germany players ahead of France’s meeting with their beleaguered European rivals.

Prior to the match between the two teams on Tuesday, Griezmann took the opportunity to praise three members of the opposition’s team. The statements come in the midst of a crisis in Germany, where Hansi Flick was fired following a 4-1 thrashing against Japan. They have fallen to Poland and Colombia in addition to losing their last three games.

Per Sport journalist Patrick Berger, Griezmann said: “I really liked the player Wirtz, I think his name is Wirtz. I think it’s great how he played. I also really like Kimmich. He is a bit the general of the German team. He does everything well. He can play on the right, play on the six. He’s a leader.

“Leroy Sané is also good. Even if he has ups and downs, he is a great attacker. He always wants to put the opponent under pressure.”

Griezmann is one of the most experienced players of the French squad, having played 122 times for his country and scoring 43 goals. If he plays against Germany, he will tie Arsenal icon Thierry Henry for the fourth-most capped French player of all time.

The world champions will face Germany in a friendly on Tuesday.

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At the age of 34, Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from professional football.

The former Real Madrid and Arsenal midfielder has called time on his career after a brief stint with Istanbul Basaksehir, who he only joined back in July.

As his contract at Arsenal expired, Ozil moved to Turkey with Fenerbahce a little over two years ago.

Confirming his decision in a statement, Ozil said: “Hello everyone, After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football.

“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity. But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, its become more and more clear that its time to leave the big stage of football.

“It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions. I want to thank my clubs – Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal FC, Fenerbahce, Ba§akwhir and the coaches who supported me, plus team-mates who have become friends.

“Special thanks must go to my family members and my closest friends. They have been a part of my journey from day one and have given me so much love and support, through the good times and the bad. Thank you to all my fans who have shown me so much love no matter the circumstances and no matter which club I was representing.

“Now I’m looking forward to everything that is in front of me with my beautiful wife, Amine, and my two beautiful daughters, Eda and Ela – but you can be sure that you will hear from me from time to time on my social media channels. See you soon, Mesut!”

Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Aqr4pB5SI2

— Mesut Özil (@M10) March 22, 2023

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After a stunning World Cup performance with Germany in 2010, he began his career in the German Bundesliga with Schalke and Werder Bremen. But, it was with Real Madrid that he truly established himself at the highest level.

Ozil joined Los Blancos’ star-studded squad under Jose Mourinho’s leadership after they defeated competition from the best teams in Europe to win his signature.

Ozil rapidly gained a reputation as one of the top playmakers in the world and was a finalist for the 2011 Ballon d’Or award because of his propensity for setting up opportunities and assisting teammates.

In the 2011–12 season, he helped Madrid in winning La Liga, and throughout the course of his three seasons there, he led the league in assists.

Ozil signed a £42.5 million transfer to Arsenal in 2013 after Arsene Wenger became interested in him due to his play in Spain.

When things finally went south, he was well-praised by the Arsenal fans and quickly rose to the status of a club hero after helping them win three FA Cups.

Ozil’s £350,000-per-week deal, which was given to him after his exceptional play, irked Gunners supporters when Arsenal dropped out of the top four and his performance fell.

His role at the club was quickly diminished following the appointments of Unai Emery and successor Mikel Arteta – the latter of whom agreed to terminate Ozil’s contract after he fell out of favour for selection.

Ozil earned 92 caps for the German national team and played a huge part in them winning the 2014 World Cup but he retired from international football in 2018 following a row with the German FA (DFB) and media criticism over his Turkish heritage after he posed alongside Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a photograph.

Away from football Ozil is a well-known philanthropist and also has a number of business ventures. Among them, he has his own M10 Esports company, and his agent Dr Erkut Sogut, has previously suggested Ozil could potentially become a professional gamer after his football career comes to an end.

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Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst thinks he is a good fit for the playing style that manager Erik ten Hag has implemented at the club this season.

Weghorst is confident that Ten Hag’s personal qualities will make him an asset for the manager between now and the season’s finish. Ten Hag’s idea of high-tempo football feeds into the historic “United Way” that has been at Old Trafford for decades.

“I think [pressing] is one of my strengths. Especially without the ball, to put pressure on an opponent [and] be active,” the towering Dutchman said in his first interview with club media.

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“That’s something I am capable of and that’s also something in the way the trainer [Ten Hag] wants to play. He wants to play aggressive; he wants to go high on the pitch, try to recover the ball there, as quickly as possible, and I think I can help the team with that.”

Weghorst joined a struggling Burnley team in January of last year, entering challenging circumstances. He had previously established himself as a prolific goal scorer in Germany and his home Netherlands, but in 20 Premier League games for the Clarets, he managed just two goals.

His goal tally at Besiktas matched that of the guy who had become a hot property at Wolfsburg, and United will be hoping that he can fill a vital vacancy in the squad.

Weghorst, who has chosen the number 27 shirt for United, could make his Premier League debut when the Red Devils visit Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

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Brazil will make an effort to maintain their chances of winning a record-extending sixth world title when they square off with Croatia in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals on Friday at Education City Stadium.

Croatia will face Brazil in a matchup between two groups that put on contrasting performances to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

Brazil’s second-round encounter against South Korea was finished after 12 minutes, finally clanging in four daring first-half goals, but Croatia labored through 120 minutes and penalties to edge past Japan.

Brazil has dropped each of their last five elimination games against European teams since defeating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final.

The Selecao has faced Croatia four times before, but has never lost. Additionally, their 1-0 group-stage setback to Cameroon last week was their only loss in their previous 19 matches, which is encouraging going into Friday’s match.

• Team News:

Borna Sosa and Josip Stanisic of Croatia missed their team’s victory over Japan due to illness and a muscle injury, respectively. The former should be able to play and might take Borna Barisic’s spot at left-back, while the latter is still questionable and will be evaluated before kickoff.

Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mateo Kovacic, three midfield masters who, along with Barisic and Dejan Lovren, are just one caution away from suspension, are all set to keep their spots in Dalic’s starting lineup on Friday.

In fact, Lovren and coveted starlet Josko Gvardiol will continue their defensive partnership, while Marko Livaja and Ante Budimir will compete to replace Bruno Petkovic as the central striker. On the flanks, Perisic and Andrej Kramaric are prepared to re-start.

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Brazil will be without Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles for the rest of the World Cup due to knee ailments, and Alex Sandro is questionable due to a hip issue.

After missing the two previous games, the 31-year-old has been working out by himself with the team’s physical trainer. If the Juventus teammate is not declared fit to start, Danilo will likely take his place at left-back, joining Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and Eder Militao in the back four.

Three Selecao players, including Militao, Fred, and Bruno Guimaraes, are only one caution away from missing a potential semifinal match. The latter two are anticipated to start again on the bench as Tite prefers Casemiro and Paqueta to start in center midfield.

Star forward Neymar is expected to continue in an advanced role between wings Raphinha and Vinicius Junior while Richarlison is expected to lead the team up front after overcoming an ankle injury to start and score against South Korea.

• Possible Lineup:

Croatia possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Kramaric, Petkovic, Perisic

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo; Casemiro, Paqueta; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Jr; Richarlison

• Score Prediction:

Prediction: Croatia 1-2 Brazil.

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Cesar Azpilicueta is convinced that Spain didn’t slack off in their defeat to Japan, insisting they gave it their all to get a result.

When Spain took the lead 11 minutes into their final group stage game, they appeared to be cruising to a comfortable finish atop their World Cup group.

To make up for it, Japan scored twice in the first three minutes of the second half to take the lead.

After that, La Roja was unable to mount a comeback, which resulted in Japan finishing first in the group and eliminating Germany.

It has been suggested Spain took their foot off the gas with qualification a near certainty, letting Japan back into the contest and perhaps ensuring Germany, a potential rival for the World Cup, didn’t make it to the round of 16.

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However, Azpilicueta refuted claims that Spain didn’t give it their best, pointing to Costa Rica’s two-minute stretch during which they had passed La Roja in the standings as grounds for concern.

“I was aware in the second half [of the Germany score]; I was on the bench so I was aware of the situation,” Azpilicueta said.

“If they look at our group the last couple of years we always give everything and we go out of the pitch to win every game, to press every ball.

“We have been punished from just scoring a goal and then conceding straight away so that’s the way we play. We are the first disappointed to not win the game so you can see what happened.”

Furthermore, he emphasized that Spain concentrated on earning at least a draw because they knew that would ensure their advancement.

“It was difficult because it is something that you cannot control, the other game, so the only thing we could do was to try to give confidence and to help our teammates to win our game. We knew that with a draw or a win we would qualify. That’s the only thing we could control,” Azpilicueta added.

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A dejected-looking Kai Havertz acknowledged that Germany’s terrifying World Cup elimination looked like a “horror movie.”

The Chelsea forward scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute to help Hansi Flick’s side come from behind and defeat Costa Rica 4-2.

However, Japan’s unexpected victory over Spain rendered Germany’s triumph meaningless, as La Roja advanced to the knockout stages as a result of their significantly better goal difference.

The dubious nature of Japan’s game-winning goal did little to lift Havertz’s spirits, and after being compelled to collect his man of the match award, a picture of the dejected-looking 23-year-old went viral.

Germany’s defeat marks their second consecutive departure from the World Cup group stage, and they also underperformed at the Euros last summer, losing to England in the round of 16 due to poor performance.

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‘When it happens this way, it feels like watching like a horror movie,’ said Havertz.

‘We learned during the match that Japan were leading, and then the rankings were displayed in the stadium. We still had a little hope that Spain would score.

‘But then we noticed that the Japan match was over.’

Havertz implied that things were not going well in German football and criticized the team’s performance against Japan for their elimination.

‘When you go out twice in the first round and once in the round of 16, it’s extremely bitter.

‘We have to be honest and say that for four years, everything hasn’t been going well.Now we’ve been knocked out twice in the group stage. I don’t think we’re a tournament team anymore.’

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Chelsea’s forward player, Kai Havertz, came to the party in the final group game between Germany and Costa Rica as he equalled a World Cup record for Germany.

Havertz had been under scrutiny because of his performance in the first two games against Spain and Japan in the group stages.

The forward man scored a brace against Costa Rica to become the second German player to score a brace as a sub at the World Cup after Andre Schürrle in 2014 vs Brazil.

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Given the outcome of the match between Spain and Japan, Havertz’s goals were insufficient to advance Germany to the Round of 16. After making it past the first round in each of the last 16 tournaments going back at least to 1954, Germany has failed to go past the group stage in either of the last two World Cups.

Spain came in second with four points, while Japan took the first position in the group with six points. In the Round of 16, Japan will play Croatia, and Morocco will play Spain.

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Following the shocking World Cup elimination of his team, Germany manager Hansi Flick has acknowledged that a swift decision regarding his future is needed.

After losing to Japan in their initial match, Germany needed the Asian team to lose to Spain on the final day. However, the Samurai Blue pulled off an incredible 2-1 comeback victory, sending Germany home early from the tournament for the second time in a row.

The former Bayern Munich manager acknowledged that a decision regarding Flick’s future will be made shortly despite the fact that many fans are clamouring for him to quit.

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Asked whether he will resign after the latest humiliation, Flick told reporters: “We’ll work that out quickly, it’s difficult to answer now right after the game when we’re eliminated.

“We’ll see about that very soon.”

Germany’s campaign came to an end with a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, but they were unable to accrue enough points to advance because of their early loss to Japan and subsequent 1-1 draw with Spain.

“I’m not speechless,” Flick said. “I was disappointed and angry with the team in the first half. We invited the opponent into the game through mistakes and carelessness. Nevertheless, we won.

“Our downfall didn’t happen today, but in 20 minutes against Japan. We could have won against Spain with a bit more efficiency. Nevertheless, the disappointment is huge.

“I don’t think it’s that we weren’t fired up. We missed a lot of chances in the first half and tried to do better in the second. Yet, we are going home. My disappointment is huge and the coaching staff feel the same way.”

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After the Germany national team was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup in the group stage, Thomas Muller admitted he was unsure whether he had played his final match for Germany.

With 44 goals, Muller ranks seventh among all German scorers, and he is tied for eighth in the World Cup scoring charts after scoring ten goals among players like Gary Lineker and Gabriel Batistuta.

Muller has made 120 appearances for Germany since his national team debut in 2010, and he was a key member of the team that won the 2014 World Cup.

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On Thursday night, Germany needed Japan to lose to Spain in order to have any chance of qualifying, but the Samurai Blue shocked everyone by winning 2-1, negating Germany’s 4-2 victory against Costa Rica.

Muller issued a speech following the game that many fans thought would be his last.

“It’s ab absolute disaster,” Muller told reporters. “I don’t know how to move forward.

“If that was my last game, then I would like to say a few words to the German football fans. It was an enormous pleasure. Thank you very much. I always tried to show heart on the pitch. Something they were tears of joy, sometimes pain. I did it with love.

“I need to think about everything now.”

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