Germany’s quarterfinal match against Spain was the most anticipated game of EURO 2024 thus far.
It delivered everything you could’ve asked for — unless you are a Germany fan. After Dani Olmo gave Spain the lead in the 51st minute it was all set to end Spain’s way but a dagger from Florian Wirtz at the death sent the game into extra time. It was looking great for the Germans who were poised to enter the shootout as favorites, until a 119th-minute goal from Mikel Merino meant heartbreak for the home side. Here are some observations after a game that will go down in football’s history books.
Football game or wrestling match? + Spain’s brilliance
This game recorded the highest number of fouls in a game this tournament, accumulated more yellow cards than any other game this tournament, and saw the game interrupted by a player on the floor every few minutes. Some would say it looked like a diving contest between the two teams. So, it is indeed a valid question.
Both teams wanted to keep up their tempo and considering the magnitude of the game, it was bound to be filled with such incessant tackles so often, and Spain did a wonderful job forcing fouls from the Germans.
More about the Spanish game plan, the game was won in transition. The way Spain effortlessly launched counterattacks and stole the tempo while putting up a defensive masterclass and maintaining a tight, constricted midfield left German players unable to completely execute their game plan, allowing Spain to maintain the front foot, especially in the first half. Well done to Spain for the perfect execution of a brilliant plan.
The referee
Bayern Munich fans are no stranger to being on the receiving end of controversial calls this year, and this time Germany too were subjected to the cruelest of losses tonight.
In the 77th minute, Niklas Füllkrug was pulled down in the box while through on goal with a wonderful cross from Florian Wirtz and a chance to equalize. Exactly 30 minutes later, Jamal Musiala had a chance to take the lead and saw his strike hit defender Marc Cucurella’s arm. In both cases no penalty was awarded, and VAR did not ask referee Anthony Taylor to take another look, either.
Fair, subjective, or by the book? In any case, it was a double blow to Germany spirits. In an age with so much new technology and innovation in the world of sports refereeing, it seems that we have come little closer to taking the controversy out of close calls.
Ode to Joy (& Sorrow)
Germany tonight was far from a symphony. There were bright spots, and then dark ones.
First, Joshua Kimmich. A lot of Bayern fans (admittedly including myself) have been on the fence regarding Kimmich’s extension or potential sale, but Kimmich showed once again why he is so highly rated at what he does. Going forward today was a total masterclass from Kimmich on the right flank. He did well overlapping with Leroy Sané (despite problems defensively at the start), created some of the game’s very best chances, and was arguably the best German player on the pitch. Above all, he rose higher than all the Spanish defenders to keep the ball in and set up Wirtz with the equalizer that gave fans hope one last time. Euphoria was in the air as Kimmich won millions of German hearts — and gave Bayern another reason to keep him. Big game player.
Toni Kroos. Yes, it was far from his best. Yes, he was unusually aggressive and risk-taking. And yes, it was his last game as a footballer. His career didn’t get the ending it deserved, but fans got to see the legendary Toni Kroos in action for Germany on the biggest stage one final time. And you probably just couldn’t stop thinking whether or not he’d recreate THAT free kick against Sweden every time he stood up to take one tonight. So cherish the moment. We might never see a player of his caliber ever again.
And now, to Kai Havertz. It is baffling how a player of such low quality is the starting striker of a footballing nation notorious for creating world-class goalscorers. Shambolic isn’t enough to describe his performance tonight. He failed when it mattered most. Sure, he has certain strengths. But none match those of a great player. But it isn’t entirely his fault either. And that brings us to the next section.
Julian Nagelsmann is his own worst enemy
Right from the lineup announcement, fans were shocked to see last-minute replacement Emre Can start, Florian Wirtz snubbed in favor of Leroy Sané, and the worst of all, Kai Havertz starting as the striker over Niklas Füllkrug. Every single one of these choices failed tonight.
Can got extremely lucky to get away without a yellow card to his name, and was subbed off immediately at half time. Sané, while present defensively, failed to provide any attacking output or use his speed for any good. Wirtz was immediately more present and explosive and even scored the equalizer. It is impossible to understand Nagelsmann’s obsession with starting Kai Havertz, an inferior finisher, over a superior goalscorer in Füllkrug.
Nagelsmann should have done better, stuck to the basics, and not overcomplicated his lineup selection. However, he did a good job with the subs and his team took a Spain team that has only won since arriving in Germany to extra time.
And Germany hasn’t looked this good as a team in years. This was the tournament poised to reunite the nation and bring together the German footballing scene despite the tough times like home tournaments in Germany have in the past. Did it accomplish that? Maybe not, but it has certainly given this team renewed hope. This team was more than deserving to reach the semis and tonight and missed out on pure circumstance.
Germany finally has a base to build on and a manager with a strong vision in Julian Nagelsmann. It’s not all doom and gloom this time around. So pack your saxophone and keep believing, the World Cup is up next — best believe Germany is back.
What do you think of the observations? Have any of your own? Tell us in the comments below, and until next time, pack mas.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis of Germany’s crushing 2-1 loss to Spain? We have you covered with our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show. We have takes on Julian Nagelsmann’s controversial starting XI, a rundown of the scoring and substitutions, and ideas on how this all fell apart in front of an absolutely electric crowd. You can get the podcast on Spotify or below:
SUDBURY, Ont. – The Pittsburgh Penguins went “old school” on Sunday, getting three goals from Evgeni Malkin and two from Sidney Crosby to defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-2 in an NHL pre-season contest at Sudbury Community Arena.
The Senators had built a 2-1 first-period lead on goals from Nick Cousins and Tim Stutzle, but the Penguins’ veterans rallied to take a 3-2 lead into the third period, then added two more in the final frame despite being badly outshot 30-19.
Defenceman Kris Letang chipped in with two assists for the Penguins, who tallied twice on the power play. Malkin also had an assist for a four-point game.
Starting netminder Tristan Jarry stopped 24 of 26 shots for the Penguins before being replaced by Filip Larsson who made four saves.
Anton Forsberg played the entire game in net for the Senators, stopping 14 of 18 shots.
UP NEXT
Penguins: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.
Senators: Visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2024.
ROGERS, Ark. (AP) — Jasmine Suwannapura made a 12-foot eagle putt on the second hole of a playoff with Lucy Li to win the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Sunday.
Suwannapura — playing in the group behind Li — also eagled the par-5 18th in regulation to force the playoff at Pinnacle Country Club. They each birdied the 18th on the first extra hole.
Suwannapura shot a career-best 10-under 61, playing the back nine in 7-under 28, to match Li at 17-under 196. Tied for 25th entering the day, Li shot a tournament-record and career-best 60, making her third eagle of the round on 18.
“Lucy was not the easy player to play in a playoff with, so I’m really glad to play and stay calm and stay within myself, play my game,” said Suwannapura, who jumped into husband-caddie Michael Thomas’ arms after the winning putt. “Today happened, so I’m very happy.”
Suwannapura won her third LPGA Tour title, playing the final 22 holes without a bogey. The 31-year-old Thai player also won the 2018 Marathon Classic and teamed with Cydney Clanton to take the 2019 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
“It’s been a long time, and there is a time that I think I probably not going to win again,” Suwannapura said. “But today everything just fall in the right place, right time. And we did it with my husband is even more special.”
Li, the 21-year-old American who played in the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at age 11, missed a chance for her first LPGA Tour victory.
“I had honestly no clue that this was going to happen,” Li said. “I did not think I was in it at all. I mean, after two three-putts in the first four holes I was just like, ‘I don’t know.′ And then some magic came and I shot 60. Even though I didn’t win, just this is the greatest thing.”
Sei Young Kim was a stroke back after a 63. She made a 20-footer for eagle on 18.
Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., was the top Canadian, finishing tied for 44th at 6 under. Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., finished tied for 58th at 5 under.
Mao Saigo (65) and Arpichaya Yubol (66) tied for fourth at 14 under, and second-round leader Ashleigh Buhai (69) was sixth at 13 under.
University of Arkansas sophomore Maria Marin topped the Razorbacks contingent in the field, closing with a 69 to tie for 17th at 10 under in her first tour start.
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox honored longtime radio voice Joe Castiglione, who called his final game Sunday, with an on-field pregame ceremony.
The 77-year-old Castiglione, who was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer with the Ford C. Frick Award, has been the team’s lead radio voice since 1983.
During the ceremony, the team played highlights of his calls over videos of the American League championship team in 1986, and Boston’s World Series title teams in 2004, ’07, ’13 and ’18 on the center-field scoreboard.
Members of those teams came onto the field during the ceremony. Hall of Famer Jim Rice highlighted the ’86 group and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez was one of the ’04 former players.
Castiglione referred to his call ending the ’04 championship that broke an 86-year title drought, when he thanked the fans. It came on a ground ball back to pitcher Keith Foulke, who was also there to represent that team.
“I will miss being your eyes and ears,” he said. “For 42 years, all I can say is: Can you believe it!”
Asked how he felt making the call of his final out — a liner to center by Tampa Bay’s Richie Palacios that ended a 3-1 victory by the Red Sox, Castiglione said: “I was sort of numb. It sort of felt like the ninth inning in St. Louis in ‘04. … It still really hasn’t set in, probably won’t until next spring.”
Before the top of the eighth, the team ran a montage of his calls over highlights shown on the center-field scoreboard. When it was over, the entire Red Sox dugout emptied, with players, coaches and manager Alex Cora stepping onto the field, looking up and applauding toward him in the booth behind home plate.
“I had some moments, especially when Alex brought the players out,” Castiglione said.
Jackie Bradley, the 2018 ALCS MVP, caught a ceremonial first pitch from Castiglione.
“Forty-two years is a long, long time for someone to be working every single day to go through the struggles and the successes, the travel and the lifestyle, and always have a smile,” Martinez said. “Those are the kind of people that deserve all the respect that we are giving him today.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu handed him a proclamation declaring Sept. 29, 2024, as “Joe Castiglione Day” in Boston. Team President Sam Kennedy presented him with letters from Fenway Park’s infamous Green Monster that read: “CASTIG” in white with a green background color of the Monster.
Cora, a member of the ’07 team, was also on the field and Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, representing the ’13 squad, was on the field as well.
Castiglione signed off like he does each season, reading part of A. Bartlett Giamatti’s “The Green Fields of the Mind.”
“I did right away, right after the game ended,” he said.
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This story has been corrected to show that Castiglione was honored with an award by the Hall of Fame, not inducted.
