June 24, (THEWILL) – In a thrilling climax to their Euro 2024 Group A campaign, Germany claimed the top spot with a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Frankfurt. The match, held at Deutsche Bank Park, saw the hosts struggle for much of the contest before Niclas Fullkrug’s 92nd-minute equaliser saved their blushes.
Switzerland, who finished as runners-up in the group, took the lead in the 29th minute through Dan Ndoye. The Bologna forward capitalised on space in the German defence to fire past Manuel Neuer, giving the Swiss a shock advantage. The visitors’ tactical approach effectively neutralised German stars Toni Kroos and Jamal Musiala, leaving the hosts frustrated.
Germany’s woes were compounded when Jonathan Tah received his second booking of the tournament, ruling him out of their upcoming Round of 16 match. However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side emerged from the break with renewed vigour, laying siege to the Swiss goal. Kai Havertz, Joshua Kimmich, and Musiala all came close to equalising, only to be denied by resolute defending and goalkeeping.
As the clock ticked down, Nagelsmann exhausted his substitutions in search of an equaliser. The gamble paid off in stoppage time when David Raum, one of the substitutes, delivered a precise cross for Fullkrug to head home. The goal marked Fullkrug’s 13th in 19 appearances for Germany, underlining his importance to the national team.
The draw extends Germany’s unbeaten run to seven matches, matching Switzerland’s own streak. Despite the late setback, Switzerland can be proud of their performance and group-stage campaign, which saw them progress to the knockout rounds as Group A runners-up. Both teams now look ahead to the Round of 16, where tougher challenges await in their quest for continental glory.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
