Thank God "thank you for technology", Germany entered the top 8 dramatically

Football Newspaper

2024-06-30 12:48Football News Official Account

The reporter reported that thunderstorms and hailstorms stole the scene, VAR dominated the game, Germany defeated Denmark 2-0 and entered the top 8 of the European Championship again after 8 years. The Danish team, which had played well, was regrettable, and experienced the "joy and sorrow" created by VAR in just 4 minutes in the second half, and finally stopped in the first round of the knockout round.

This 1/8 final at the Dortmund Stadium was full of surprises. Bad weather with thunderstorms + hail outside the stadium caused the game to be suspended for 35 minutes in the first half and only restarted after 25 minutes. However, the sudden change did not affect the state of the German team, and Schlotterbeck said after the game that the team handled the accident caused by the weather well and was not affected by the interruption of the game. On the contrary, before the thunderstorm interrupted the game, and even until the two VAR interventions in the early stages of the second half, the German team did not perform as well as the Danish team. Had it not been for Manuel Neuer and Toni Rudiger, the hosts would have been the first to concede.

The main central defender Jonatan Ta was suspended, Nagelsmann replaced as many as three starters, Schlotterbeck replaced Jonatan Ta, Sane and Raum replaced Wirtz and Mittelstedt, and center forward Phil Kruger, who was highly requested by the media and fans, continued to be substituted. The German coach explained the substitution as hoping that the faster Sane would open up space in attack, while Raum was all about training and trying to get a start.

However, Sane's performance as a substitute in the group stage three games was not satisfactory, and this game was also the worst form of the team. Raum is good at crossing, but the German team has no high striker to play to his strengths. The game opened into a dramatic pace when Schlotterbeck's header was cancelled out by England referee Oliver for a foul on Kimmich after VAR intervened. After withstanding the Germans' first 20 minutes, the Danes took control of the situation, and just when the Germans were about to make a big mistake, the rain and hail gave the Germans a precious respite.

In the first half, the two teams' central strikers Kai Havertz and Hojlen each wasted a good chance to score a single goal, while Denmark's Crystal Palace defender Anderson became the "lucky one" in the second half. VAR twice caused controversy in the space of four minutes, which became the turning point of the game.

In the 48th minute, Anderson seized on the chaos of the German defense to score, but teammate Delaney was ruled offside. Four minutes later, Raum counter-attacked and crossed the ball into Anderson's right arm, but VAR did not let go of the fatal foul and Havertz was awarded Germany's fifth penalty in regulation time in European Championship history. In just five minutes, the Danish team went from a 1-0 lead to a 0-1 deficit due to VAR intervention. After the game, Denmark coach Julmann lashed out at VAR, arguing that the result of the game was completely determined by the two VAR, and that he was extremely tired of the ridiculous rule of 1 cm offside, and that football should not let high technology be the protagonist.

These two consecutive VAR decisions against the Danish team have clearly affected the mentality of the Danish players. Nagelsmann then sent in Phil Kruger, Emre Can and Schlotterbeck, and three Dortmund players brought unprecedented enthusiasm to the home stadium. Four minutes later, Schlotterbeck set up Musiala with a long ball and the Nigerian winger sealed the win. Although Havertz and Wirtz wasted another chance after that, 2-0 was enough to ensure that Germany reached the last eight of the European Championship after eight years.

In this European Cup, the German team won 3 games in 4 games, equaling the 10 wins in the previous 3 major tournaments (1 European Cup + 2 World Cups). At 21 years and 124 days, Musiala set a new record for the youngest goalscorer in the knockout stages of the European Championship and temporarily topped the European Championship scorers list with three sports goals, ahead of Mikotaze, who also scored three goals but had two penalties. While Nagelsmann is still struggling with whether Kai Havertz or Phil Krueger will start, Musiala's form is unquestionable. According to the rating of "Bild" after the game, except for Sane and Gundogan, who left early, the remaining 9 of the starting 11 of the German team got a high score of 2 points (the lower the German media rating, the better the performance).

Germany, who have reached the last eight, will challenge Stuttgart for the semi-finals, most likely against a strong Spain. Germany's last match in Stuttgart before the European Championship was a 1-1 draw with Spain in the UEFA Nations League in September 2020. In the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, the two teams drew 1-1 again. In the Euro 2008 final and the 2010 World Semi-Final, Germany were beaten 1-0 by Spain. The last time Germany beat Spain at home was back in August 2000 in a warm-up match (4-1) in Dusseldorf, when German coach Nagelsmann was just 13 years old.

Since 1980, the German team has reached the last eight seven times, and the worst result has been the last four, which has given German fans more expectations. For Nagelsmann, the real test of the Euros.

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