In a match that will be remembered for its dramatic twists and turns, host nation Germany secured a spot in the European Championship quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Denmark on Saturday.
The win came amidst a thunderstorm-induced delay and two crucial video review calls, sending the jubilant German fans into raptures.
The game, played in front of a packed Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, was interrupted by a thunderstorm that brought torrential rain and hail, causing a 25-minute halt in play.
Despite the adverse weather, the atmosphere remained electric as the soaked fans continued to cheer for their team.
The turning point of the match came in the second half. Denmark’s Joachim Andersen appeared to have put his team ahead in the 50th minute with a close-range finish.
However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) spotted an offside in the buildup, disallowing the goal.
Immediately after, Germany launched a counter-attack, leading to a cross by David Raum striking Andersen’s outstretched arm. Another VAR review resulted in a penalty for Germany, which Kai Havertz converted, breaking the deadlock.
Jamal Musiala added a second goal for Germany in the 68th minute, securing the win and his third goal of the tournament, tying him with Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze for the most in the competition so far.
The victory marked Germany’s first win in the knockout stages of a major tournament since 2016, a significant achievement for a team looking to shake off a series of disappointing performances in recent years.
“We played a super game — we had crazy fans again today,” said Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck. “We’re playing with euphoria, we’re playing with fun, and that’s what the most beautiful thing about football is.”
Germany’s coach, Julian Nagelsmann, used the rain delay to his advantage, showing his players key moments from the first half-hour of the game.
“We came through adversity in those seconds where it was, ‘Was it a goal or not a goal?’ and ‘Was it handball or not a handball?’ That makes me proud,” Nagelsmann said. “The team deserves it and hopefully we are getting rid of the old memory stick and understand how good we actually are.”
Denmark’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, expressed frustration over the VAR decisions, particularly the handball ruling.
“It was one centimeter offside. In terms of statistics and data, it doesn’t make sense. This is not how we are supposed to be using VAR,” he said. “And I am so tired of the ridiculous handball rule. Joachim was running normally. It’s a normal situation.”
Despite the controversy, it is Germany who advances, with the team set to face Spain or Georgia in the quarterfinals.
As the German fans sang “We’re going to Berlin,” the team now looks forward to potentially turning this European Championship into a summer fairy tale, hoping to end their run of underwhelming performances on the grand stage.
“It was a wild game altogether,” Nagelsmann remarked. “We understand how good we actually are. Now, it’s time to prove it.”
With two more wins needed to reach the final in Berlin on July 14, Germany is riding high on confidence and national pride, ready to make the most of their home advantage.