Germany scored two goals in the second half to beat Denmark in Dortmund to reach the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championship.
The hosts’ round of 16 match was chaotic as the first half was postponed by 25 minutes due to a thunderstorm and torrential rain.
However, Kai Havertz’s penalty in the 53rd minute was followed 15 minutes later by a brilliant goal from Jamal Musiala and Germany reached the last eight of a major tournament for the first time since 2016.
Thunder and lightning take center stage in the first half
Thunderstorms had been forecast ahead of Germany’s first knockout match of the tournament, but this did not stop the more than 40,000 spectators from streaming into the Dortmund fan zone.
Spectators thought the home team had already taken the lead after three minutes when Nico Schlotterbeck headed in a corner. However, the goal was disallowed because Joshua Kimmich had blocked a defender beforehand using the video assistant referee (VAR).
Germany continued to dominate the opening stages, with Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel forced to dive to save Havertz’s fierce shot.
Although Denmark fought their way back into the game, the match was halted after 35 minutes when a violent thunderstorm appeared in the sky.
For 25 minutes, fans in the Dortmund Arena sought shelter from lightning strikes and hailstones, while fans in the local fan zone had to be evacuated.
When play finally resumed for the final ten minutes of the first half, Havertz missed a golden chance when he headed a brilliant cross straight at Schmeichel.
DFB team benefits from Denmark’s bad luck
After the players returned to the field and resumed play, the game was turned on its head and Joachim Andersen’s evening turned from euphoria to disaster within 60 seconds.
The Danish defender thought he had given his team the lead when Germany failed to clear a set piece and Thomas Delaney’s blocked shot landed at the feet of Andersen, who smashed the ball home from 9 metres.
However, Denmark’s goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee due to a very narrow offside position, before video replay technology was used again just a few moments later and Andersen was adjudged to have handballed in the penalty area.
Havertz did not let himself be deterred and converted the penalty from eleven meters into the far right corner, to the delight of the 80,000 fans in the stadium.
Denmark pushed for an equaliser but were caught off guard when a long ball from German defender Schlotterbeck was intercepted by Musiala and fired past Schmeichel to double the hosts’ lead.
It was a deserved victory for Germany, who will face either Spain or Georgia in the quarter-finals in Stuttgart on Friday.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
