Germany sub Niclas Füllkrug wrestles back top spot from Switzerland in UEFA Euro 2024 Group A
Niclas Füllkrug's late equaliser ensured Germany beat Switzerland to top spot in UEFA Euro 2024 Group A.
Germany 1-1 Switzerland
Goals: 0-1 Ndoye 28' (assist: Freuler), 1-1 Füllkrug 90'+2 (assist: Raum)
Perfect after two games, Germany were already assured of their place in the round of 16 and needed just a point to advance as Group A winners. A Kai Havertz header tested Yann Sommer early on, but Germany otherwise found chances extremely hard to come by, save a long-range Robert Andrich goal that was disallowed for a foul by Jamal Musiala in the build-up. Switzerland deserved credit for stifling Germany's creative axis, but they also found joy in attacking areas. Dan Ndoye broke the deadlock on one such occasion, the Switzerland striker sticking out a boot to convert Remo Freuler's cross into the six-yard box. He almost added a second moments later, but his shot across goal whistled just past Manuel Neuer's far post.
An unchanged Germany emerged from the dressing room in attacking mood as Florian Wirtz threaded a brilliantly disguised pass through to Musiala. The Bayern Munich youngster wriggled away from his marker on the edge of the area, but his fierce shot was beaten away by Sommer. Toni Kroos pulled an 18-yard strike wide, before Havertz headed a couple of half chances over. Sommer made a superb block from Joshua Kimmich's close-range attempt as Germany continued to knock at the door, with Leroy Sané and Füllkrug thrown on to knock it down with 15 minutes remaining. Switzerland substitute Ruben Vargas had more of the desired effect, but the Augsburg forward's tidy finish was chalked off for offside. Neuer made a flying save from Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka, before Füllkrug rose highest at the other end to head in a dramatic equaliser, denying Die Nati first place and setting up a last-16 showdown with the runner-up in Group C (England, Denmark, Slovenia or Serbia).
Match stats
- Germany are unbeaten after three group games, winning two.
- Switzerland advance as runners-up. They'll face second in Group B (Spain, Italy, Croatia or Albania) in the round of 16.
- Füllkrug has 13 goals in 19 senior internationals. He has scored four times from the bench at finals, making him Germany's record substitute scorer in major tournaments.
- Neuer made his 18th appearance at a Euros, setting a new record for a goalkeeper.
- Hoffenheim's Maximilian Beier made his Euros debut.
- Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah collected his second yellow card of the finals, ruling him out of Germany's last-16 tie.
Line-ups
Switzerland: Sommer - Schär, Akanji, Rodriguez - Widmer, Xhaka (c), Freuler, Aebischer - Rieder (Vargas 65'), Ndoye (Amdouni 65') - Embolo (Duah 65')
Unused subs: Mvogo, Kobel, Stergiou, Elvedi, Zakaria, Okafor, Steffen, Zuber, Zesiger, Sierro, Shaqiri, Jashari
Out: -
Coach: Murat Yakin
Germany: Neuer - Kimmich, Rüdiger, Tah (Schlotterbeck 61'), Mittelstädt (Raum 61') - Andrich (Beier 65'), Kroos - Musiala (Füllkrug 76'), Gündoğan (c), Wirtz (Sané 76') - Havertz
Unused subs: Baumann, ter Stegen, Groß, Müller, Anton, Henrichs, Koch, Can, Undav
Out: -
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
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