Spain v Germany had all of the ingredients to be a European Championship classic and it fully delivered on Friday evening.
The two best teams of the tournament hitherto met in the last eight in Stuttgart, with many football fans expressing their regret that it would not be the EURO 2024 final.
It was a slow burn but the game lived up to the hype, with Spain taking a second-half lead through Dani Olmo before Germany clicked into gear at last.
A wonderful finish from Florian Wirtz just before full-time was just reward for a near-30-minute-long attacking onslaught and sent the game to extra-time.
The additional 30 minutes can often be a slog for viewers but it was anything but on Friday evening, with Spain coming back into the game and massive chances at both ends.
After several narrow misses for Germany's Niclas Fullkrug, Spain would win the day in the most dramatic fashion, with defensive substitute Mikel Merino popping up three minutes from time with a perfect header to send the Spaniards through.
SPAIN ADVANCE
🇪🇸 2-1 🇩🇪 (AET)
Sub Mikel Merino guides his header past Manuel Neuer after 119 minutes and the Spanish are through to the semi-finals #EURO2024
📺 @rte2 @rteplayer https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱Live updates https://t.co/PxDdwGjzY1 pic.twitter.com/rmcxAlY5Ay— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 5, 2024
It was an instant classic which could well end up being remembered as the finest game of these European Championships.
The commentary of Merino's dramatic late winner on Spanish station Radio Nacional captured the fever-pitch energy of a topsy turvy clash in Stuttgart.
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Spain v Germany: Spanish commentary of Mikel Merino winner was amazing
An amazing snippet was shared to Twitter by Spanish football expert Sid Lowe on Saturday of the wonderful soundtrack provided by Radio Nacional to Mikel Merino's late winner on Friday.
Mikel Merino’s goal on Radio Nacional pic.twitter.com/Ab378WdONO
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) July 6, 2024
It was a truly remarkable header, with the Real Sociedad man rising and hanging in the air to contort his body perfectly and drive the ball into the top corner.
The home fans were heartbroken but, for Spain, it was ecstasy. That ecstasy was perfectly captured by the commentary from Antonio Muelas Aberasturi on Radio Nacional.
We're used to an enthusiastic "GOL!" from Spanish commentators but the energy behind that on Radio Nacional was truly special.
It almost seemed as though Aberasturi was fighting back tears as he described the thrilling end to an instant classic at the EUROs.
The hosts are out, and Spain now progress to face France in the semi-finals. They will face the French without Dani Carvajal or Alvaro Morata, both of whom are suspended after picking up cards in Friday's match.
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