Euro 2024: Germany fail to break 40-year drought after losing to Spain in Quarterfinals, Can England do it?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Germany's Euro 2024 campaign on home soil ended with a defeat to Spain on Friday (July 5). The Die Mannschaft were cruelly beaten with a last-gasp goal from the Spaniards who advanced to the semifinals.

Mikel Merino's dramatic header in the 119th minute propelled Spain into last four, securing a 2-1 victory over Germany in Stuttgart. Florian Wirtz had equalised for Germany in the 89th minute, cancelling out Dani Olmo's earlier goal. The game was intense and filled with action right until the end, but Mikel Merino scored to break the German hearts amid Spanish ecstasy.

Germany became the first Euros hosts to lose a quarter-final and their dismal run in the major competitions after the 2014 FIFA World Cup victory continues. But with the exit, Germany has also failed to end a four-decade-long drought in the Euros.

Euro 2024: Hosts fail to win the Euros again

In the Euros, only three host countries have ever won the tournament. And the barren run as a host country has continued with Germany's departure.

Germany had the opportunity to break a 40-year-long drought of winning the Euros as a host country. The last time the hosts won the Euros was back in 1984, when France secured their continental supremacy under the leadership of Michel Platini.

Apart from Les Bleus, only Spain (1964) and Italy (1968) have won the tournament as host nation.

Euro 2028: Can England end the drought?

England is expected to play part in the Euro 2028 as one of the host nations and the onus will be on the Three Lions to end that drought. But incidentally, they are still alive in this Euros and can emerge as winners as well.