Germany weather storm to beat Denmark and reach quarters

Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala each scored in the second half to propel Germany into the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Denmark on Saturday. The match had been delayed due to a thunderstorm during the Round of 16 clash.

Early in the game, Danish defender Joachim Andersen had a close-range goal disallowed for offside and later conceded a penalty that Havertz converted in the 53rd minute. Nico Schlotterbeck had previously seen a goal ruled out due to a foul in the build-up, as Germany asserted control despite the weather interruptions.

Denmark, playing defensively with a back five, struggled to contain Germany’s attacks early on but grew into the match, nearly scoring through Christian Eriksen before the weather delay. After the break, Musiala extended Germany’s lead in the 68th minute with his third goal of the tournament, securing their place in the quarter-finals. They will face either Spain or Georgia in the next round.

Musiala’s goal tied him with Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze as the top scorer of Euro 2024 with three goals. This victory marked Germany’s first knockout win in a major tournament in eight years, following disappointments in recent World Cups and Euro 2020.

Despite creating numerous chances, Germany missed several opportunities to widen their lead, with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel making important saves for Denmark. Antonio Rudiger, named player of the match, acknowledged Germany’s dominance throughout the game but noted the team’s need to convert more of their chances.