Spain v Germany player ratings: Merino 8, Olmo 9; Kroos 6, Fullkrug 7

Merino's extra-time winner sends Euro 2024 hosts out after dramatic quarter-final in Stuttgart

Unai Simon 8/10

SPAIN RATINGS. Saved a Kimmich header on 20 mins and comfortable saving Havertz’s chances in the first half. More comfortable saves in the second. Booked for time-wasting as Spain tried to see the gamShow more

Dani Carvajal 6/10

Fouled in a yellow card challenge on 27 mins. Got back to get his foot in and disrupt German attacks. Blocked Havertz as Germany pushed for an equaliser. Became the 11th player to be booked (from 16) Show more

Aymeric Laporte 7/10

Shot low and on target after 22 mins. Floored 10 seconds into the second half by Wirtz. Ball went over his head for Germany’s goal, but played well. EPA

Robin Le Normand 6/10

Got his foot in to block a fifth minute German attack. Booked after 29 mins and taken off as a caution at half time. AFP

Marc Cucurella 7/10

Fired a splendid ball down the line after five minutes. Beaten in the air before Germany’s equaliser. Ball hit his hand after 106 minutes but no penalty – correctly – was given. AFP

Rodri 7/10

His muscle was needed in a scrappy game. Tough against Musiala and he should have been booked for one challenge. Stopped the ball getting to Gundogan in the box on 54 mins. Booked. AFP

Pedri 6/10

Had a shot on target in the first minute, then flipped over in a tackle by Kroos three minutes later. Left the pitch after eight minutes and his leg was heavily bandaged thereafter. AFP

Fabian Ruiz 8/10

Shot over the bar after going for the top corner in an open game after 16 minutes. Lovely touch and skill to take three players out of the game with a 79th minute move. Booked. AFP

Lamine Yamal 7/10

Set up Morata at the start of the second half and Olmo with a perfectly weighted pass after 51 mins for the opener. Getty Images

Alvaro Morata 6/10

Poor movement in the first half, shot over at the start of the second when he was much improved. Involved in the first goal. Brought off as Spain sought, unsuccessfully, to protect their lead. Booked Show more

Nico Williams 6/10

Quick feet allowed him to shoot on target on 35 mins, but he was offside. Closely followed by Rudiger and not as effective as in other games. AP

Dani Olmo 9/10

SPAIN SUBS. (On for Pedri, 8'): Put his side ahead after 51 mins with a beautifully timed run and finish. Pulled back by Kroos when he was clear on goal. Germany struggled to deal with the Spaniard whShow more

Nacho 5/10

(On for Le Normand, 46'): The Saudi-bound player had a tough time against the powerful Fullkrug. Reuters

Ferran Torres 6/10

(On for Yamal, 63'): Booked for pulling back Musiala. Prodded a breakaway attack wide after 120 minutes. AP

Mikel Oyarzabal 6/10

(On for Morata, 80'): Curled a shot from outside the area wide of the far post. EPA

Mikel Merino 8/10

(On for Williams, 80'): Will be remembered for one thing, the winning goal, a perfectly executed header on 118 minutes from the Real Sociedad midfielder. PA

Joselu 6/10

(On for Ruiz, 102'): The Stuttgart-born striker was a late substitute. PA

Manuel Neuer 7/10

GERMANY RATINGS: Couple of solid if routine stops from Pedri and then his replacement Olmo in the first half. Could do little about either goal. AFP

Joshua Kimmich 7/10

Didn't know whether to stick or twist at times as he wanted to get forward but wary of the dangerous Williams. Super knock down for equaliser. Getty Images

Antonio Rudiger 6/10

Battled bravely but looked distraught after he lost Merino and was caught under the ball for the winner. Reuters

Jonathan Tah 6/10

Took a while to settle down on return from suspension but solid enough afterwards. AFP

David Raum 5/10

Should have done more to stop Lamal crossing for the opener. Withdrawn on 57 minutes. AFP

Emre Can 5/10

Put himself about in physical start from Germans but off the pace and subbed at the break. AFP

Toni Kroos 6/10

Glittering career ended in crushing disappointment in his final game before retirement. Getty Images

Ilkay Gundogan 6/10

Couple of searching passes but struggled to make an impact and taken off in reshuffle on 57 minutes. AFP

Jamal Musiala 6/10

Flickered in and out of the game. Some lively runs but not quite the cutting edge of previous games. AFP

Kai Havertz 6/10

Some clever link-up play but blew big moment as he lofted over the bar as his side sought an equaliser. AFP

Leroy Sane 5/10

On the fringes of the game before half-time withdrawal. AFP

Florian Wirtz 7/10

GERMANY SUBS. (On for Sane, 45'): Super finish for vital late leveller and almost had a second in extra time. Getty Images

Robert Andrich 7/10

(On for Can, 45'): Added some bite to German midfield. Reuters

Niclas Fullkrug 7/10

(On for Gundogan, 57'): Gave side a focal point and proved a real handful for Spanish defence. Struck post and drew big save from Simon late in extra time. Then missed late headed chance. Reuters

Maximilian Mittelstadt 6/10

(On for Raum, 57'): Rash defensively but cross led to Wirtz's goal. AP

Thomas Muller 5/10

(On for Tah, 80'): Made little impact. Reuters

Waldemar Anton 6/10

(On for Havertz, 90'): Shored things up. Getty Images

Mikel Merino scored a stunning header in extra time to put Spain through to the Euro 2024 semi-finals as they sent hosts Germany crashing out following a 2-1 win in Stuttgart on Friday night.

Spain took the lead through Dani Olmo six minutes into the second half, but Germany fought back and Florian Wirtz kept their hopes alive with an 89th-minute strike.

The match looked destined for penalties but, in the 119th minute, substitute Merino headed Spain into the final four and knocked the hosts out.

Dani Carvajal was shown a second yellow card in the final seconds of the match and La Roja will now face France in Munich on Tuesday after Les Bleus edged past Portugal on penalties in Hamburg.

Match-winner Merino said afterwards: "The game we were all waiting for, between two of the best teams in the world. It could be a World Cup final or a Euros final, those who have come off the bench have a very high level. We have shown that we know how to suffer, that we have a great team."

Spain started brightly with a chance just seconds after kick-off when Alvaro Morata flicked the ball to Pedri on the edge of the box, but his low strike was collected by Manuel Neuer.

La Roja were then dealt a blow after Barcelona midfielder Pedri was forced off the field with an injury just eight minutes into the game. He had been chopped down by Toni Kroos moments earlier.

Fabian Ruiz blasted a shot over as Spain threatened on the break but, following a cautious start, Germany had their first real chance when Havertz’s header was saved by Unai Simon.

Spain were fast out of the blocks in the second half when Lamine Yamal tapped the ball into Morata, who pulled off a great turn but fired over the bar.

Their quick start was rewarded in the 51st minute when Yamal hit another great low pass from the right into an unmarked Olmo, who tucked the ball into the bottom corner.

Germany searched for a response with Niclas Fullkrug and Antonio Rudiger going close before Simon made a great save to palm away Robert Andrich’s powerful shot.

Fullkrug was causing problems and had a brilliant chance after receiving the ball from Wirtz, but his effort smashed off a post.

Germany’s persistence paid off when Wirtz struck a low effort into the bottom corner in the 89th minute to level the match and force an additional 30 minutes.

Despite the host’s extra-time efforts, Merino sent Spain through in the 119th minute, leaping and heading into the top corner from Olmo’s cross.

The drama continued in the final minutes as Fullkrug nodded wide and Carvajal was dismissed after hauling Jamal Musiala down.