Spain 2-1 Germany (AET): Mikel Merino breaks hosts' hearts with 119th-minute winner to send favourites into Euro 2024 semi-finals after Florian Wirtz had forced extra-time

A Spanish TV advert promoting the coverage of this match depicted a sunburnt German bagging a sun lounger. 'They're suffering from redness', it stated. Now they're going to suffer from the reds.'

In truth, everyone suffered on this bewildering, breathless night. Spain, ahead within 89 minutes play, who were hauled back and struggled desperately. Germany, restored so completely by their substitutes that destiny seemed to be sending them on in this tournament. And then, with three minutes left on the clock, midfielder Mikel Merino leapt to twist a headed winner from which, even then, Germany should have found a way back. This match, between the tournaments best two teams, would have been such a fitting final.

The host's agonies will be compounded by the fact that the two jewels in Spain's crown – Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams - had been withdrawn, recklessly so, leaving them chasing shadows for the entirety of extra time.

For a time, we saw why those players will probably be the ones we are talking about when this tournament is done and dusted. What majesty Tamal delivered, just after the break, to render this old stadium silent.

The 16-year cast the briefest glance across the box in the 51st minute when Alvaro Morata fed a ball out of defence by Aymeric Laporte onto him. The boy kissed it across the turf to the spot where Dani Olmo, cruising undetected into the back of the box, struck it first time across the sun-dappled turf, into the net.

It was a goal of breathtaking simplicity to crack open a match that until then had been heavy, physical and weighted down by the tactical dimension. Testament, also to the talent of Olmo, a quite beautiful player who has spent the past four and half seasons at Leipzig. His part in this night was certainly not done.

By then, Germany had been the more physical and muscular side, marking well in midfield to limit the supply to Yamal and Nico Williams. Ilkay Gundogan was tight on Rodri, generally such an arch instigator. The hosts played the more direct football on the few occasions they attacked and carved out the better chances. Kai Havertz climbed into Joshua Kimmich's jabbed cross but sent a header at a comfortable height, then sent in another low shot on the turn.

There was also an improbable weakness at the heart of Germany's midfield: Toni Kroos, lacking the mobility and movement to keep up with the Spanish runners. Olmo, Yamal, Williams and Pedri all had the better of him and from the start he knew it. A lunge at Pedri in the games early exchanges saw the Spaniard limp from the field with sprained ligaments in his knee. He was in tears and will play no further part in this tournament.

He was crying when he left the field and his tragedy is Spain's tragedy. He has two very bad years for injuries and has had to work hard psychologically to come back.

Spain had started the second half higher up the pitch and looked more clinical before their goal went in. Yamal fizzed in a pass which Morata span around but he shot over the bar. But after the opening goal came the turnaround and the start of this wild, topsy-turvy night. The partisan crowd played its part. Coach Julian Nagelsmann did much more with the changes he made.

There were echoes of Germany's comeback against the Swiss in the group stage, in the way he reorganised his team to finding an equaliser. Old-school English football philosophy, you might call it. Niclas Fullkrug arrived from the bench, Germany went to two up-top with two wingers and the Spaniards were pushed deeper.

Fullkrug hit the base of the post, fighting to a get ahead of substitute Nacho, who was tugging at his shirt. Echoes of the desperation the forward felt after striking the upright for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final, too. Havertz had the chance to clip the outcoming Unai Simon from 30 yards after he was gifted possession by the goalkeeper but landed the ball in the roof of the net. Jamal Musiala could not bring a threat for Germany and the clock ticked down.

It was substitute Florian Wirtz, fastening onto to Kimmich's header back across goal and smashing into the turf and into the net, who saved Germany and sent them into extra time. How Spain hen missed Yamal and Williams, who had been removed after 80 minutes, in the ensuing extra time. The Spanish had been talking about 'the curse of the hosts' all week. Nine times they had played the nation staging the tournaments. Nine times they had lost. It felt like there would be a tenth.

Wirtz should have won the night for Germany in the first half of extra time, instead dragging wide a ball substitute Thomas Muller had levelled into his path.

Germany had a decent penalty appeal in the second half of injury time. Musiala's shot struck Cucurella's arm. Anthony Taylor did not draw on VAR though more marginal penalties have been called through technology in this tournament. Fullkrug threw himself at a cross from Kimmich, forcing Simon to leap and save.

Spain found their winner – the excellent Olmo arcing a cross and Merino, whom Antonio Rudiger lost, leaping to head home. Even then, Fullkrug sent a free header wide from five yards and Dani Carvajal was sent off for deterring a last German break.

History tells us that Spain never know when they're beaten in tournament football. It was in the 116th minute that Andres Iniesta scored the winner against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. It was with 17 minutes to play that Carles Puyol leapt to head the winner against Germany in the semi-final that year. And reaching back further, there was a 115th winner from Amancio Amaro against Hungary in the semi-final of the 1964 Euros which Spain hosted and won. After this, they have reason to believe that history can repeat itself.