Germany won the first place in Group “A” of Euro 2024 in an extremely dramatic way. Julian Nagelsmann’s team drew 1-1 with Switzerland in the final match of this opening phase of the tournament. However, the development of the match in Frankfurt was such that the hosts of the continental forum felt like real lucky ones. Until the 91st minute, the “Crusaders” were leading 1-0 after a goal by Ndoye in the first half and were already seeing how they would face the second team from Group “C”. At that moment, substitute striker Niclas Füllkrug came on the scene and with a header changed the whole course of events and put the “Mannschaft” back on top with seven points, while the saddened Swiss remained second with five.
The disappointment for Murat Yakin’s players is double, as in the 86th minute they even briefly led 2-0, but Vargas’s goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
Germany did not waste any time and immediately showed Switzerland the strength of its attack. Jamal Musiala broke through the flank and moved towards the center to send a leading pass to Ilkay Gundogan, who had joined from deep. A moment before delivering a decisive blow, the midfielder was blocked by two defenders of the “Crusaders”.
Julian Nagelsmann’s team gave the necessary playing time with the ball to the “Crusaders”, but when necessary, the “Mannschaft” immediately switched to their direct football. It was precisely in this way that in the 9th minute, the attacking actions were sharpened, and Gundogan did not manage to shoot his shot through a crowd of enemy players.
Switzerland got away in the 16th minute, after a goal in their goal was correctly disallowed by Italian referee Daniele Orsato. Robert Andrich scored with a long-range shot that visibly surprised Yann Sommer. However, the joy of the defensive midfielder was short-lived, because a little earlier in the attack, an uncalculated tackle by Jamal Musiala caused a foul against Michel Aebischer.
The stands of the “Deutsche Bank Arena” were silenced after Switzerland took the lead with a regular goal in the 28th minute. Dan Ndoye led an attack through the center, then continued down the flank for Remo Freuler. The experienced midfielder waited for the player with No. 19 to join the penalty area, then fed him with a perfect cross. The Bologna goalscorer didn’t wait for a second invitation, got ahead of his marker and with one touch sent the ball into Neuer’s net.
The problems for the Bundesliga team could have doubled, after Ndoye was again in a shooting position in the next attack. And he was not far from the target. This time, however, his ground-level shot whizzed extremely close to the left post of the fully stretched Neuer.
Germany applied final pressure at the end of the first half. Nagelsmann’s team had enough good scoring opportunities, but Antonio Rüdiger and Kai Havertz were not at all convincing in the finishing phase.
Germany started the second half at high speed. Jamal Musiala was lively in attack and freed himself to take a good enough shot. To Sommer’s delight, the ball landed right in the hands of the Swiss goalkeeper.
The hosts of the tournament were very close to restoring parity, with Joshua Kimmich finding himself close to Yann Sommer. The versatile No. 6 shot without hesitation, but at that moment Manuel Akanji threw himself in a great blocking tackle.
Switzerland showed that their lead in this match is not at all a coincidence. In the 83rd minute, Murat Yakin’s team had a great counterattack, in which Ruben Vargas was found alone against Neuer and scored more than coolly. However, there was no time for joy for him, unfortunately, as even in real time it was seen that the substitute player was in an offside position.
The Germans had a good chance four minutes before the end. The unassuming Kai Havertz still had his moment of activity when he found himself unmarked after a corner cross. His header landed over Sommer’s crossbar.
Germany did not give up on seeking a positive outcome to this tough match for the team and in the end the hosts’ efforts were justified. The “golden” substitute Niclas Füllkrug came on in the role of a savior, scoring in the second minute of added time. The Borussia Dortmund striker took the best position from a cross by another substitute – David Raum – and with a header secured the final score of 1:1.
The disappointment was clearly visible on the faces of the German players, while the Swiss team celebrated their dramatic fight for the second place in the group. This result sends Switzerland to the knockout stages, while Germany will face the runner-up of Group C, most likely Spain, in their first knockout match.
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