Show only key events Please enable JavaScript to use this feature 53 min Batlle’s very deep cross bounces awkwardly past Mariona, who can’t control it under pressure. 52 min Plenty of possession for Spain, but for the most part Germany keep it at arm’s length. Updated 21.09 BST 48 mins Butle’s shot from the edge of the area is deflected and flashes wide of the goal. Spain started the second half quickly. 46 min Early half time for Germany, with Pop curling in from the left corner. He rose above Paredes but couldn’t get his header on target. 46 minutes Peep peep! Germany start the second half. Half time change for Germany, Lena Lattwein for Lina Magull. Reading at half time
Half time: Germany 2-0 Spain
Ruthless, efficient, German: Germany was all that and more. Spain played well for much of the first half, but Sandra Panos’ horrendous mistake led to an early goal for Klara Buhl, and Alex Popp headed home a second just before half-time. 44 min Right-back Gwinn wanders in, wins possession on the edge of the area and hits a left-footed shot that’s deflected wide. The resulting corner is fired by the unseen Hutt beyond the far post. 42 min Germany have done a lot for Spain so far. You have the ball, we’ll score the goals. 40 minutes Loose ball to Bonmati on the edge of the area. He teases a first-time chip over Frohms who drifts a few yards from the far post. I think it was a shot rather than a cross. in any case, it was close. 38 mins This is, almost unbelievably, Alex Popp’s first start in a European Championship game. He missed the 2013 and 2017 tournaments through injury and started Friday’s match against Denmark on the bench. Updated at 20.39 BST It was the simplest of goals: a corner from Rauch on the right and Pop’s decisive header deflected off Patrie and into the net. I suspect it would have gone in without the diversion. Alexandra Popp doubles Germany’s lead. Photo: John Sibley/ReutersPopp celebrates her second goal in two games. Photo: Lisi Niesner/Reuters German fans celebrate Pop’s goal. Photo: Simon Dael/Shutterstock Updated 21.09 BST
TARGET! Germany 2-0 Spain (Pop 37)
Alex Popp makes it two! Updated at 20.48 BST 34 min Mariona made a good pass to Patri, 20 meters from goal. He turns, walks into the area and cuts a half-length cross that flashes over the bar. Moments later, after a bit more crisp passing, Sheila Garcia hits a half volley over the bar from 12 yards. He had to get it early, so it wasn’t the easiest opportunity. 32 minutes Bonmati and Lucia Garcia exchange passes on the edge of the German area. Bonmati has a chance to shoot but instead tries to find Sheila Garcia in space to her right. The pass is blocked and Germany clear the danger. 31 min If it stays like this, and I know it’s important if, Spain will need a draw against Denmark to progress to the quarter-finals. 27 mins Rauch has been booked for cynically blocking Sheila Garcia, meaning she will miss the game against Finland on Saturday. Maria Leon’s free kick is bravely cleared at the near post by Pop. Updated at 20.28 BST 25 min Germany have more of the ball now. Mughal dances into space on the left of the area and fires a dangerous ball over the bar. There was no one in there. 23 mins This is a really high quality game, the best I’ve seen so far (although I missed Sweden v Holland). England will have a tough quarter-final no matter what. 20 mins Buhl turns Batlle inside out on the left, again Paredes comes in to clear the danger. Spain have been excellent on the ball but look vulnerable in defence. Moments later Dumbridge’s shot from 20 yards was well blocked by Alexandris. 18 mins: Just outside Mariona! It was a brilliant effort. After some quicker passing from Spain, Mariona took a quick touch, on the edge of the D, then took an early shot that beat the diving Frohms and curled past the far post. Spain’s Mariona (right) and Patri Guijarro react after Mariona’s shot went to the wrong side of the post. Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/AP Updated at 20.37 BST 17 mins Completed passes so far: Germany 16-Spain 101. 16 min “Bühl as you like, this end”, Peter Oh puns. 15 mins Spain start to move the ball with their usual strike. After a long period of possession, Patrie makes room for a long shot that is comfortably saved to her right by Froms. 13 mins “The Spain manager bears a striking resemblance to Gareth Southgate,” says Charles Antaki, “so his expression of pent-up rage feels very familiar, in a way.” History will be very kind to Southgate and his repressed grief. Probably Jorge Vilda too, although I’ll come back to that in a few weeks. 10 minutes: Chance for Spain! It should be 1-1. Patrie made a great first-time pass to set up Lucia Garcia on goal. She turned Fromms but took the ball slightly wide and her shot hit the side netting. Close but no cigar for Lucia Garcia. Photo: John Patrick Fletcher/Action Plus/Shutterstock Updated 21.06 BST 7 mins Magoul collects a loose ball and goes into the box but Paredes reads the play well and comes in to make the save. Germany look dangerous, and not just when Spain have the ball. Updated 20.07 BST 4 mins John Beck’s Cambridge have never conceded such a goal, fact and end. When tiki-taka goes bad. Panos, the Spain goalkeeper, played a lazy pass straight to Klara Buhl 12 meters from goal. He controlled it expertly, got away from Paredes and hit a low left-footer into the far corner. It was an emphatic finish, but a horrible moment for Panos. Klara Buhl shoots … Photo: Neil Hall/EPAA and scores. Photo: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Updated 21.08 BST
TARGET! Germany 1-0 Spain (Buhl 3)
Germany takes the lead after Sandra Panou’s screamer! Spain goalkeeper Sandra Panos looks frustrated after an error gave Germany an early lead. Photo: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Updated at 20.15 BST 1 minute Peep peep! Spain, batting from right to left, start this strong match. The players are coming. It’s a stormy evening in west London, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. Good night to let the ball do the work, as Spain are wont to do. Other news today: Vivianne Miedema tests positive for Covid. He will miss Holland’s match against Portugal tomorrow and likely the final group game against Switzerland on Sunday. Covid is starting to have an unwanted effect on this tournament. Here’s Maryam Naz’s report on Denmark 1-0 Finland Updated at 19.41 BST Sid Lowe Match Preview Spain have never beaten Germany before so they are chasing a bit of history tonight. Denmark beat Finland 1-0 in the opening match. You will never believe who scored the goal.
Team news
A forced change for Germany. Alex Popp, who came off the bench to score against Denmark, replaces Lea Schuller, who has Covid. Popp will also captain the side. Spain made a few changes. Laia Aleixandri and Sheila Garcia replace Irene Guerrero and Esther Gonzalez. This probably means that Patri Guijarro will move from No6 to No8 and Lucia Garcia from right wing to center forward. Germany (4-3-3) Froms; Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering, Rauch; Oberdorf, Dabritz, Magull; Hoot, Pop, Bull. Substitutes: Schult, Berger, Kleinherne, Latwein, Lohmann, Freigang, Aniomi, Dahlmann, Vasmuth, Brandt, Dorsun-Kajeh. Germany’s Kathrin-Julia Hendrich and Laura Freigang during the warm-up. Photographer: Simon Dael/Shutterstock Spain (4-1-2-3) Panos; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Ouahabi; Alexander? Bonmati, Patri; S Garcia, L Garcia, Mariona Subs: Gallardo, Misa, Ivana Andres, Guerrero, Esther Gonzalez, del Castillo, Cardona, Sarriegi, Abelleira, Carmona, Pereira, Pina. Referee Stephanie Frappart (France). Updated at 20.39 BST
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Germany v Spain at Brentford Community Stadium. The book says this is a team game, but it feels much bigger – not because of what’s at stake so much as the quality of the two teams. With the exception of Sweden – Netherlands, this is the biggest game of Euro 2022 so far. Germany, the back-to-back winners of this competition, were very formidable as they demolished Denmark 4-0 on Friday. Spain recovered from an early shock to beat Finland 4-1, although tonight will give us a better idea of their pH level – how reliant they are on the injured Alexia Putellas and Jenni Hermoso and whether they are still serious contenders in the absence their. The Germans are also missing a star tonight: Lea Schuller, who tested positive for Covid. It is only natural, given the class of both teams, to see this game as an opportunity to set a mark for the rest of the tournament, rather than a simple source of three points. But it’s dangerous to assume qualification, and anything less than a win for Spain, in particular, would leave them vulnerable to a possible sting in the final group game. Just one more thing. The Group B runners-up will play England in the quarter-finals tomorrow. all things being equal, this will be one of those groups. It’s a juicy subplot to an already delicious game. Start 8 p.m. BST. Updated at 19.53 BST
