STUTTGART, Germany: Substitute Mikel Merino headed Spain into the semifinals of the European Championship as they snatched a 2-1 win over Germany in extra time on Friday.
Florian Wirtz’s equalizer in the last minute of regulation time sent the gripping quarterfinal to extra time after Dani Olmo — who set up Merino’s winner — netted the opener early in the second half.
“It was the game we expected,” Merino said, “because we were facing one of the best teams in the world. This could have been a final, and it sure played out that way. This was a game between elite teams, a constant back and forth, and we showed that we have a great team.”
Spain defender Dani Carvajal was sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card and will be suspended from Tuesday’s semifinal against Portugal or France. Fellow defender Robin le Normand will also miss that match after picking up another booking.
The result ended the career of Germany’s Toni Kroos, who announced he would retire at the end of the tournament.
The quarterfinal pitted the teams who have played the best soccer at Euro 2024, and it didn’t disappoint.
There was a blistering pace from the start with crunching tackles and end-to-end action.
Kroos was lucky not to be booked for a mistimed challenge that upended Spain midfielder Pedri.
Another hefty challenge moments later saw Pedri leave the field injured and in tears as he was replaced by Olmo in the eighth minute, the fastest replacement in the history of the Euros.
From the resulting free kick, Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest ever goal-scorer at the tournament, but the 16-year-old’s effort flashed past the right post.
Yamal did have a hand in the opener as he cut inside from the right and rolled the ball across for Olmo to hit it first time into the bottom left corner.
It was Yamal’s third assist of the tournament, the most by a teenager at a Euros.
Substitute Nico Füllkrug hit the post in a late desperate onslaught by Germany, which was rewarded just in the nick of time.
Joshua Kimmich nodded Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross back to Wirtz, whose effort went in off the far post.
Both teams had more chances to win in extra time before Merino leapt high to head in Olmo’s cross and send the Spanish fans behind the goal into a frenzy.

AL-AIN: UAE’s Al-Ain on Thursday announced the signing of Brazilian defender Marlon Santos for an undisclosed sum, the Emirates News Agency reported.
The 28-year-old center back, who has played for Barcelona, Nice and Fluminense, is set to arrive in the UAE in the next few days to undergo medical checks and sign his contract with the AFC Champions League winners.
The announcement was made by the Pro League team’s club chairman, Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
He said the new signing reflected the “generous support” of Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi, for the club and Argentinian coach Hernan Crespo in striving for the highest levels of success in all competitions.
“The aim is to attract the best players to strengthen the team’s formation so that the substitutes would be at the same level of the main players,” Sultan said.
“The first deal is the signing of Santos, which is an important step in strengthening the team’s defense … I trust the player’s ability to make a difference in the team’s system. Other new contracts will be announced soon.”
Winning the AFC Champions League 2023-24 title was the start of a new era for the club, he said.
“Al-Ain Club embodies the principle of applying actual professionalism, which is an approach to institutional work that will lead to a qualitative shift in sports management starting from the new season.
“Work in the company proceeds with a clear vision and confident strategic plans in preparation for the next season. Efforts are not limited to a specific aspect, but rather focus on the details related to the mechanism of the company’s system, which is indivisible and includes interest in a promising future for the club in creating football talents to strengthen the ranks and activate the concept of investment and increase resources.”
On reports that Laba Kodjo, Sofiane Rahimi and Alejandro Cacau are set to leave the team, Sultan said: “It is certain that Sofiane, Kako and Laba are the main pillars and the team’s preparation for the new season is based on them, but involving the name of the Asian champion in promoting some names at the regional level is normal due to the value of the club’s name and the great achievement it has recently achieved.
“Al-Ain FC works with a clear approach and there are technical plans and a well studied budget that has been allocated for contracts according to the team’s needs and not according to the requirements of promotion.”
Talking about the club’s fans, Sultan said they were ‘No. 1 player’ and one of the main reasons for its success.
“Working to achieve their ambitions and make them happy is the duty of the management,” he said.