Stuttgart, Germany — France will face Spain in the semi-finals of the European Championship following an intense extra-time victory over Germany in Stuttgart. Les Bleus remain on track for a third European Championship title, having previously triumphed in 1984 and 2000.
In a dramatic quarterfinal, France secured its place in the semi-finals by knocking out Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in a nail-biting penalty shootout, winning 5-3. Remarkably, Didier Deschamps’ team has advanced to this stage despite not scoring a single goal from open play throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, Spain celebrated jubilantly after eliminating the tournament host, Germany, in a thrilling quarterfinal clash. The Spanish team, led by Luis de la Fuente, now has a strong chance of lifting the trophy in Berlin next week, marking a significant achievement as Spain eliminated the host of a major tournament for the first time in 10 attempts.
Spain’s 2-1 victory over Germany came courtesy of a dramatic extra-time goal from substitute Mikel Merino in the 119th minute. Merino’s header sealed the win and his celebration paid homage to his father, Miguel Merino, who scored in the same stadium for Osasuna against Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup in 1991. Running around the corner flag, Mikel mimicked his father’s iconic celebration, creating a memorable moment for Spanish fans.
The upcoming semi-final promises to be a captivating encounter as both teams look to secure a place in the final and edge closer to European glory.
