U19 European Championship: How Germany lost to Spain

"Unbelievable! How could we have lost this game?" "Unbelievable! How could we have won this game?" – The reactions from both sides in the catacombs of the Stadionul Arcul de Triumf were almost identical. In the semifinals of the U19 European Championship, Germany and Spain had engaged in an almost historic clash. But in this country, only a few people watched the game live; they were preoccupied with Paris Saint-Germain's third group match at the Club World Cup, the U21 European Championship, indoor hockey, and the summer break. The few who tuned in from the start – including a Schalke fan who went home at halftime after the 4-4 draw in Dortmund – spontaneously opted for the somewhat more exciting "Duel of the Garden Professionals" (ZDF Neo) with the halftime score at 1-0 to the DFB.

But the second half took a turn for the worse. After an hour, Spaniard Pablo Garcia equalized, went on to score three more goals, win the Spanish version of the Math Kangaroo, and provide an explanation for baryon asymmetry. But that was just the beginning. After Germany had taken the lead again, Garcia turned the game around in the 91st and 95th minutes, but Spain's place in the final was not going to happen for the time being: Goalkeeper Raúl Jiménez underestimated a German free-kick from midfield, allowing Andrés Cuenca to tip the ball into his own net. It was such an unfortunate move that Cuenca's explanation after the match that he had wanted to avoid an unfortunate handball so as not to be booed by German fans for decades seemed only partially credible.

What sounded crazy only became more absurd in overtime. German national coach Hanno Balitsch and his Spanish counterpart, Francisco Gallardo León, had actually already agreed to a rock-paper-scissors decision. However, this was torpedoed by the illegal use of the so-called "Obi-Hörnchen," in which two fingers are curled to resemble ears. The interim Davis Cup overtime was abandoned with the score at 6:4, 1:6, 6:6, and as night fell.

The suggestion of South Korean-French referee Endlich á Lö-Sung to play the next 30 minutes in a "beat the Raab" format, with later goals counting more, was rejected by all involved – "Nobody really believes us anymore" – but even so, the outcome was a tough one: 3:4, 4:4, 5:4, 5:5 after 113 minutes – and still no decision. Pablo Garcia once again secured the victory with his fourth goal of the day.

"Nobody believes us," was the unanimous statement from everyone involved that evening. Especially not those who had shared the score in WhatsApp friend groups with the question, "What was going on?"