Spain 2-1 Germany (AET): Mikel Merino breaks hosts' hearts with 119th-minute winner to send favourites into Euro 2024 semi-finals after Florian Wirtz had forced extra-time

A Spanish TV advert promoting the coverage of this match depicted a sunburnt German bagging a sun lounger. ‘They’re suffering from redness’, it stated. Now they’re going to suffer from the reds.’

In truth, it was a bewildering, breathless night in which everyone suffered. Spain, ahead within 89 minutes play, who were hauled back and struggled desperately. Germany, so utterly resurrected by their substitutes that destiny seemed to be sending them on in this tournament. And then, after 119 minutes of football, Mikel Merino, a midfielder leapt to seal the night against all the odds.

The German public had been mesmerised by the prospect of going up against 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. Der Spiegel even pointed out that under German employment law, it was not legal for a minor like him to be working after 11pm at night - potentially a problem for a Spanish semi-final or final.

What majesty he delivered, just after the break, to render this old stadium silent. The 16-year cast the briefest glance across the box in the 51st minute when Alvaro Morata fed a ball out of defence by Aymeric Laporte onto him. The boy kissed it across the turf to the spot where Dani Olmo, cruising undetected into the back of the box, struck it first time across the sun-dappled turf, into the net.

It was a goal of breathtaking simplicity to crack open a match that by then had been heavy, physical and weighted down by the tactical dimension. Testament to the talent of Olmo, who has spent the past four and half seasons at Leipzig.

Germany had been the more physical and muscular side, marking well in midfield to limit the supply to Yamal and Nico Williams. Ilkay Gundogan was tight on Rodri, such an arch instigator. They played the more direct football on the few occasions they attacked and carved out the better chances. Kai Havertz climbed into Joshua Kimmich’s jabbed cross but sent a header at a comfortable height, then sent in another low shot on the turn.

But the German midfield weakness was Toni Kroos, lacking the mobility and movement to keep up with the Spanish runners. Olmo, Yamal, Williams and Pedri all had the better of him and from the start he knew it. A lunge at Pedri in the games early exchanges saw the Spaniard limp from the field with sprained ligaments in his knee. He was in tears and will play no further part in this tournament if Spain progress.

He was crying when he left the field and his tragedy is Spain’s tragedy. He has two very bad years for injuries and ahs had to work hard psychologically to come back.

Spain had started the second half higher up the pitch and looked more clinical before their goal went in. Jamal fizzed in a pass which Morata span around but he shot over the bar,

But there were echoes of Germany’s attempts to find a comeback against the Swiss in the group stage, in the way they set about finding an equaliser. Niclas Fullkrug arrived from the bench, Germany went to two up-top with two wingers and the Spaniards were pushed deeper.

Fullkrug hit the base of the post, fighting to a get ahead of substitute Nacho, who was tugging at his shirt. Havertz had the chance to clip the outcoming Unai Simon from 30 yards after he was gifted possession by the goalkeeper but landed the ball in the roof of the net. Jamal Musiala could not bring a threat for Germany and the clock ticked down.

Julian Nagelsmann has a reputation for excellent substitutions and Germany’s certainly made the difference again. It was substitute Florian Wirtz, fastening onto to Kimmich’s header back across goal and smashing into the turf and into the net, who saved Germany and sent them into extra time.

How Spain missed Yamal and Williams, who had been removed after 80 minutes, in the ensuing extra time. Wirtz should have won the night for Germany in the first half of extra time, instead dragging wide a ball substitute Thomas Muller had levelled into his path.

Germany had a decent penalty appeal in the second half of injury time. Musiala’s shot struck Cucurella’s arm. Anthony Taylor did not draw on VAR though more marginal penalties have been called through technology in this tournament. Fullkrug threw himself at a cross from Kimmich, forcing Simon to leap and save.

Yet unfathomably Spain found their winner – Olmo arcing a cross and Merino, whom Antonio Rudiger lost, leaping to twist a header past Neuer. Even then, Fullrug sent a free header wide from five yards and Dani Carvajal was sent off for deterring a last German break.

A Carles Puyol header won Spain the World Cup semi-final in 2010 – the year they won it. After this, they have reason to believe that history can repeat itself.