Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz scored as Euro 2024 hosts Germany reached the quarter-finals by beating Denmark in a game that was interrupted by a spectacular storm.
The last-16 tussle at Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion was suspened for around 20 minutes towards the end of the first half, as lightning lit up the sky and the pitch was soaked by hail and heavy rain.
But the game was also notable for calls by the video assistant referee, with Nico Schlotterbeck having had an early header ruled out by VAR, while Denmark were denied in the second half when Joachim Andersen’s strike was chalked off as team-mate Thomas Delaney was flagged just offside.
Germany were celebrating another VAR call in their favour moments after the Danes’ disallowed goal when referee Michael Oliver was called to the pitchside monitor and awarded a penalty for handball by the luckless Andersen.
Havertz put a cool spot-kick out of Kasper Schmeichel’s reach to delight the passionate home fans.
The forward should have scored a second soon after when he clipped a shot over Schmeichel only to see it go wide, but Germany had their decisive second with just over 20 minutes remaining.
This time it was young star Musiala who got the goal as he raced through on the left and slotted into the far corner.
From then on the home fans were on their feet, roaring their side on for more goals, hoping they would really lay down a marker to suggest they might go all the way.
No more were forthcoming, but the Germany fans cheered their side passionately at the final whistle in celebration of this convincing win.
They will next play the winner of Sunday’s game between Spain, who have looked one of the best sides so far, and surprise package Georgia. The quarter-final is scheduled for Friday, 5 July.
This was a game and result that may live long in the memory of German fans. Their team produced a display that, at times, showed why they are becoming strong contenders to lift the European Championship trophy on home soil.
Germany are now the highest-scoring team in the tournament with 10 goals, and they should probably have boosted that tally even further here.
Havertz saw an early header saved and then had a good chance in the closing stages when he was denied by Schmeichel, who also saved from Florian Wirtz late on.
The epic storm that caused the delay in play will not be soon forgotten, and it was the sort of night where not only the weather was tempestuous. The VAR calls put Germany and their fans through a rollercoaster of emotions, but they were ultimately lifted by another excellent display by Musiala.
Germany were aggrieved when Schlotterbeck saw his early header ruled out for what appeared to be obstruction, bringing back memories of the goal they had disallowed in the first half of the Switzerland draw in their final group game.
However, the big video assistant referee calls went firmly in Germany’s favour in the second half, with Denmark denied an equaliser when Delaney was offside by a toe, and then the penalty decision that led to the breakthrough as David Raum’s cross touched Andersen’s outstretched arm.
Defensively there were some German concerns as Denmark, who exited Euro 2024 without winning a game, should have scored in the first half when Rasmus Hojlund went through.
But ultimately Germany’s attacking strength, led by the exciting and dynamic trio of Musiala, Wirtz and Havertz, proved decisive.
