Report: Switzerland 1-1 Germany
UEFA European Championship.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany appeared set for a shock Euro 2024 defeat, but Niclas Füllkrug had other ideas in Frankfurt. The towering substitute proved to be the last-gasp hero as Germany avoided an upset, snatching a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday.
Dan Ndoye’s first international goal seemed poised to seal a famous win for Switzerland and ensure they topped Group A. However, Füllkrug’s header in the dying seconds changed the outcome in Frankfurt.
Ruben Vargas thought he had doubled Switzerland’s advantage late on, only to be denied by the offside flag. That decision proved pivotal when Füllkrug headed in his 92nd-minute equaliser.
This late intervention ensured Germany finished top of the group and will face the second place in Group D in the last 16. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s top-two finish sets up a meeting with the runners-up of Group B.
The host nation started brightly and thought they had taken an early lead when Florian Wirtz teed up Robert Andrich, who squeezed his shot past Yann Sommer into the near post. However, the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder was denied his first international goal after a VAR check ruled that Jamal Musiala had fouled Michel Aebischer in the box during the build-up.
Nagelsmann’s team found themselves behind for the first time in the tournament just before the half-hour mark after Ndoye crashed Remo Freuler’s whipped cross past the helpless Manuel Neuer. Moments later, Ndoye offered Germany another scare, racing past Antonio Rudiger before fizzing an angled shot just wide of the far post.
Nagelsmann’s half-time message was clear as Musiala looked to make it three goals in three games with a powerful hit from the edge of the box, but Sommer was equal to the attempt. Toni Kroos drilled a low shot wide under pressure, and Kai Havertz glanced a header over the bar as Germany struggled to find their clinical edge.
Joshua Kimmich had the best chance to equalise from close range in the 71st minute, but an incredible last-ditch block by Manuel Akanji denied him. Vargas was left one-on-one with Neuer shortly after and slotted into the far corner, but the assistant referee was quick to flag for offside, cutting short Switzerland’s celebrations.
Havertz’s looping header bounced off the crossbar as Germany sought a response. The breakthrough came when Füllkrug made his impact off the bench, thumping a header home from David Raum’s left-sided delivery.
Neuer’s record-breaking day was salvaged by Füllkrug’s late heroics. Neuer, who had already made history in their opening game at Euro 2024 by becoming Germany’s outright top appearance maker at major tournaments, surpassed Philipp Lahm with his performance.
