Unai Simon acknowledged Spain would have to recover their focus amid celebrations of a quarter-final win over Germany that felt "like a Euros final". (More Football News)
La Roja are still two 🅺victories from the Euro 2024 title, but they have cleared their greatest hurdle yet after𝄹 beating the hosts 2-1 late in extra time on Friday.
Subsitute Mikel Merino headed a 119th-𒀰minute winner, with Spain earlier frustrated by a Florian Wirtz equaliser a💝t the end of normal time.
Goalkeeper Simon was in no mood to talk down his si𝓰de's achievement, even if ♔attention must soon turn to Tuesday's semi-final.
"What we have achieved is historic, winning this game is like a Eu🐻ros final," 🏅he said.
"We have already celebrated, but we have to recover because in four days we have a sem꧙i-final."
Spain and German𝄹y had perhaps been 💮the tournament's two standout teams through the first four rounds of matches, and this meeting did not disappoint.
"It was the match we were all waiting for, between two of the best t🎉eams in the wor🍨ld," said Merino.
"It could be a World 🔴Cup final or a European Championship final; the level of those who have come off the bench is very high.
"We 🐬have shown that we know how to suffer, that we have a great t𝕴eam."
Spain suffered physically as well as mentally in a feisty encounter that saw 15 ca꧋rds – the second-most in a Euros match – even if they gave as good as they got.
Robin Le Normand's second yellow card of the finals will now see him miss the next rou😼nd, with Dani Carvajal also banned. He🀅 was already set to sit out the semi-final even before a last-gasp second booking – and third of the tournament – saw him sent off.
Alvaro Morata also appeared to be suspe♏n🙈ded for a card from the bench in the aftermath of Merino's goal, but the caution was later removed by UEFA.
Regardless, Spain coach Luis de la Fuerte is backing the players on the fringes of hཧis squad to deputise in the same effective fashio💟n as super sub Merino.
"Any of the 26 players are ready," he said. "𝓡Each one has his role at the right tim🦩e.
"I am very proud of these playꦉers. Tomorr🍷ow we will recover, and we will try to have as many players as possible."
De la Fuerte might also be without Pedri through injury follow💟ing a foul from Toni Kroos that wasജ not punished with a card.
The Barcelona midfielder was wiped out in the opening minute of the match and soon h꧋ad to be replaced by Dani Olmo, who himself stepped up with the opening goal and an assist for Merino.
"Pedri was in pain," De la Fuerte said.𓄧 "I think it was a red card [for Kroos].
"Whether Pedri is on th🙈e pitch or off [for the rest of the tourn🦹ament], he's going to keep contributing."
However, the coach added of Germany's rugged approach: "These are games like that, when you're playing for so much, at this stage, you have to use all your weapons. I have no complaints abou🅷t German football."
