A Kai Havertz penalty and a Jamal Musiala strike gave Germany a 2-0 win over Denmark as they reached the Euro 2024 quarters in dramatic fashion after the game was suspended for nearly half an hour during the first half because of a violent storm.
Well, Havertz stroked home from the spot early in the second half here in Dortmund, following a handball by Joachim Andersen, the unlucky Danish defender who saw a goal ruled offside at the other end only moments earlier. Then a classy finish by an even classier player, as Musiala of Bayern Munich ran away to stroke in the second goal midway through the second half as Germany’s class told.
At one stage it seemed as though the match might be called off as English referee Michael Oliver halted proceedings in the 35th minute of the first half and removed the teams from the pitch while a violent storm passed overhead.
Torrential rain, hailstones, high winds, thunder and lightning caused a break in play of 25 minutes before the action could resume.
It made for a memorable night, one that ended with the host nation coming through a stern test of their credentials to keep alive their dream of winning the trophy in Berlin on July 14.
The path is set to get much tougher from here, however, and Julian Nagelsmann’s team will now go to Stuttgart for a quarter-final next Friday against either the much-fancied Spain or surprise package Georgia,.
Meanwhile Denmark, who famously beat Germany in the 1992 European Championship final, go home without winning a game — they had qualified from their group with three draws.
Nagelsmann made three changes to the Germany side following their last outing, a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Nico Schlotterbeck replaced the suspended Jonathan Tah at the heart of the defence, David Raum started at left-back, and Leroy Sane was chosen ahead of Florian Wirtz on the right flank.
Schlotterbeck, of Borussia Dortmund, thought that he had put Germany in front inside four minutes when bundling home a corner in front of the towering South Stand.
He ran off in celebration but the goal was ruled out due to a foul by Joshua Kimmich.
It threatened to become a frustrating night for the home team as they were then thwarted on several occasions by Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
He tipped over a rasping drive by Kimmich and turned a Havertz volley around the post as the Danes weathered the early storm.
Another was coming, and when the action eventually restarted with the pitch now sodden, Germany quickly cranked up the pressure again.
A Raum cross from the left was met by the head of Havertz, but Schmeichel – whose father played in that 1992 final — was once again on hand to make a good save.
The Danes did carry a threat on the break as they attacked towards their own supporters, but Rasmus Hojlund hit the side-netting after catching Schlotterbeck in possession, before seeing Manuel Neuer come out and save at his feet.
The game was interrupted again for the half-time break, before Denmark –- and Andersen in particular — were left to rue two VAR interventions at the beginning of the second half.
First, on 48 minutes, having the ball break to him in the box and fire home, he thought he scored but the VAR team ordered the referee to annul because an offside against Thomas Delaney, who had provided the assist, was identified.
As soon as play resumed, Germany launched an attack with Raum’s cross deflecting off the outstretched hand of Andersen in the area.
Another spot-kick punished the Crystal Palace player’s crime, and Havertz converted his second penalty of the finals.
Havertz and Sane missed great chances to make it 2-0 before Musiala ran onto a simple ball over the top and ran through to score his third goal of the Euros, becoming the joint-top scorer with Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze.
A late goal for Wirtz, on as a substitute, that would have made it 3-0 was ruled out for offside but Germany have momentum and will take some stopping now.