PLAYER RATINGS: Four German flops score just 5/10 as Premier League star runs the game… and which sub was man of the match for Spain in quarter-final win?

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It was heartbreak in Stuttgart for Euro 2024 hosts Germany, as the hosts were knocked out of the competition in dramatic fashion by Spain. 

The game looked destined to go to penalties after Florian Wirtz cancelled out Dani Olmo's opener at the end of regulation time.

Then just 70 seconds before the end of extra-time, former Newcastle player Mikel Merino crushed the hearts of Germany fans to send Spain into the last-four. 

The goal also ended the career of Toni Kroos, who previously announced he would retire from football at the end of Euro 2024.  

Mail Sport's Aadam Patel gives his verdict on how players from both sides performed during the tense encounter.

Mikel Merino scored the crucial goal for Spain to knock hosts Germany out of Euro 2024

SPAIN (4-2-3-1) 

Unai Simon (6)

Made two comfortable saves in the first half and then a brilliant stop in the second half to deny Andrich. Booked for time wasting. Lucky to get away with losing possession when Kai Havertz blazed over but had no chance for Wirtz’s equaliser. Big save in extra time to deny Fullkrug.

Dani Carvajal (7)

Enjoyed a comfortable game with Jamal Musiala rarely asking questions of him. His experience was priceless and made a crucial block late on but picked up a deserved booking for a handball and was sent off late on, ruling him out of the semi-final.

Dani Carvajal was solid in defence and took one for the team with a late second yellow which means he will miss the semi-final

Robin Le Normand (6)

Part of a centre-half pairing born in France, with Aymeric Laporte. Unlucky to get a booking that rules him out of the semi-final and was replaced for Nacho at half-time.

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Aymeric Laporte (7)

Also started on a booking. Showed his experience with a commanding display. More first half touches than any other Spanish player and solid all evening.

Marc Cucurella (6)

Took an early blow but grew into the game and like Carvajal, ensured Spain offered a threat down both flanks. Has got to stop going down with his hands in his face and was perhaps fortunate not to have a penalty given against him for handball late on. But, solid defensively.

Rodri (7)

Quality, as ever. Ran the game and was integral to everything Spain did. Just a superb footballer. Another one was booked by Anthony Taylor.

Rodri, just he always does at Manchester City, looked solid in the middle of the park for Spain

Fabian Ruiz (7)

Formed a quality partnership with Rodri and did not stop working all game. So comfortable in possession but forced off in extra time after picking up a knock.

Lamine Yamal (7)

What a star. A joy to watch. Felt like something was about to happen whenever he had the ball. Picked out Morata for a great chance before perfectly teeing up Dani Olmo for the goal. Made way for Ferran Torres just after the hour mark, which was an understandable decision as Spain looked to strengthen up defensively.

Pedri (5)

Came close with an early chance but was forced off eight minutes in after a shocking foul by Toni Kroos. Looked gutted and will be a major doubt for the semi-final.

There is uncertainty over Pedri's tournament as he went off early into the game with an injury

Nico Williams (7)

Constantly involved and was too quick for the Germans but looked frustrated with the lack of options. Had a great first half chance but was denied by Neuer. Replaced by Mikel Merino in the 80th minute. Spain lacked that spark in the final third without him.

Alvaro Morata (6)

Never stopped pressing, leading from the front but lacked the movement to get in behind the back four. Wasted a huge chance when he blazed over just before Olmo’s goal. Taken off for Mikel Oyarzabal late on in normal time but he will head to Munich, determined to lead his nation to Berlin next Sunday. 

Substitutes

Dani Olmo (8)

Replaced Pedri in the eighth minute and instantly got into the game. A lovely run and finish from just inside the box for the goal that broke German hearts. His second goal of the tournament. And got the assist that destroyed German dreams. Player of the Match.

Dani Olmo (No 10) replaced Pedri and was the star of the show for Spain with a goal and assist

Nacho (6)

On for Le Normand at half-time and did what was asked of him in such a big game.

Ferran Torres (6)

Replaced Lamine Yamal just after the hour mark and picked up a deserved booking for rugby tackling Jamal Musiala. With hindsight, was a poor call as Spain were much less threatening without Yamal but got the job done.

Mikel Merino (7)

Came on for Nico Williams in the 80th minute as Spain looked to see the game out. Ended up becoming the hero with the perfect header that delivered the knockout blow, writing his name into Spanish history.

Mikel Oyarzabal (6)

Came on for Alvaro Morata in the 80th minute as Spain looked to see the game out.

Joselu (5)

On for Fabian Ruiz in extra time.

Manager

Luis De La Fuente (8)

Fair play as his side stuck to their guns and played some delightful football in the face of a physical German display. Deserved winners and arguably the favourites to go all the way.

Mikel Merino was the hero of the night for Spain with his winner preventing a penalty shootout

GERMANY (4-2-3-1)

Manuel Neuer (6)

Made a record 39th major tournament appearance - no German has more. Kept busy in the first half making four saves but could do nothing to deny Olmo.

Joshua Kimmich (7)

Created the best chance of the first half and was regularly involved in an enthralling battle with Nico Williams. Played the ball to Wirtz who set up Fullkrug for the chance where he hit the post and then got the assist for Wirtz’s equaliser. Relentless performance and was utterly inconsolable at full time.

Antonio Rudiger (7)

Picked up an early booking which would have ruled him out of a potential semi-final but top class defensively. What a player.

Antonio Rudiger put in an impressive defensive performance but would have been ruled out of the semi-final if they advanced

Jonathan Tah (6)

Returned from suspension to come back into the team and formed a good partnership with Rudiger. Taken off for Thomas Muller in the 80th minute.

David Raum (5)

Booked in the first half. Struggled to cope with Lamine Yamal and was guilty of giving him too much time for the goal. Replaced for Maximilian Mittelstadt in the 57th minute.

Emre Can (5)

Wasn’t even in the squad until the eve of the tournament but replaced Robert Andrich in the starting eleven. Somehow avoided a first-half booking and didn’t offer much on the ball before he was replaced at half-time for Andrich.

Toni Kroos (6)

So fortunate to avoid a booking for the foul on Pedri, which forced him to go off. But showed his class, with regular balls breaking through the lines. Was finally booked in the 67th minute for his fourth foul and tired as the game progressed. A sad farewell for a true great of the game.

Toni Kroos was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off for two yellow cards in his final game

Leroy Sane (5)

Julian Nagelsmann stuck with Sane after his performance against Denmark but he had just 16 touches in the first half and was taken off at the break for Florian Wirtz, who changed the game.

Ilkay Gundogan (6)

The Germany skipper was a passenger as his side opted for a more physical approach. Taken off for Fullkrug just before the hour mark.

Jamal Musiala (5)

After a magnificent tournament, he struggled to get into the game here. Perhaps Germany’s initial approach was to blame but he simply didn’t test Dani Carvajal enough.

Kai Havertz (6)

Great movement and running all game but as a striker, you’re judged on the goals you score. Had two big chances in the first half and had to do better before wasting a glorious opportunity in the latter stages. Taken off for Waldemar Anton at the start of extra time.

Jamal Musiala had a magnificent tournament but struggled to get into the game here

Kai Havertz had a number of big chances which could have kept Germany in the tournament

Substitutes

Robert Andrich (6)

Came on for Emre Can at half-time. Pink-haired and got a yellow card, which would have ruled him out of a potential semi-final. Came

Florian Wirtz (7)

Came on for Leroy Sane at half-time and made the difference. Regularly got in behind Spain and was so unlucky not to get an assist when Fullkrug hit the post. Took matters into his own hands with the equaliser - a well-taken finish when his country needed him. What a strike. Was booked in extra time before coming so close to getting the winner

Florian Wirtz came on for Leroy Sane at half-time and made the difference for Germany

Maximilian Mittelstadt (6)

Replaced David Raum in the 57th minute and another one who was booked, ruling him out of a potential semi-final. But crucially played the ball into the box which led to the equaliser.

Niclas Fullkrug (7)

The fans favourite. On for Ilkay Gundogan in the 57th minute and got the crowd going. Made a huge impact with his movement, caused problems and hit the post before Wirtz’s leveller. Came close to a winner in extra time with a header that was kept out by Simon before agonisingly heading wide in injury time.

Niclas Fullkrug made a huge impact with his movement but missed a huge late chance

Thomas Muller (5)

Thrown on in the 80th minute as Germany hunted for an equaliser. Would have been a fairytale story if he scored. Nearly got an assist when Wirtz shot just wide in extra Tim.

Waldemar Anton (5)

On for Kai Havertz in extra time as Germany went back to a back four.

Manager

Julian Nagelsmann (7)

An interesting approach to the game but made the right changes and ultimately fell short to a quality Spanish side. Can hold his head up high.