A Aymeric Laporte exhausted at the end of the last-gasp battle against the Germany in the quarter-finals of the Europeans. First the network of Dani Olmo who had in fact given the illusion Red Furies to advance to the next round, while Wirtz’s goal in the 88th minute reopened the game, when suddenly in extra time, in the 119th minute, Mikel Merino flew to smash the ball into the net for the winning 2-1. And so the Spain flies to the semi-final against France, who won on penalties against Portugal last night.
The first sensations post-match: “We are very tired, but very happy,” insisted the 30-year-old central defender, who lamented Wirtz’s 1-1 draw. “The goal in the 88th minute hurt us a lot, but we managed to improve in extra time,” said the Spaniard who then wanted to spend precious words on the Substitute players. “We have to compliment those who came on as substitutes because they gave us stability, they had the ball, they dribbled, they looked for fouls, they helped in defense…. Congratulations to them. They played a great game.”
A special mention, of course, to the Spain’s new hero. The Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merinoauthor of the goal that made it 2-1: “Congratulations to Mikel Merino for his great goal, I’m sure he will remember it for a long time”, assured the Al-Nassr defender.