Written by 
Euro 2024 Football Language Day 22: Last-Gasp Winner
Spain and Germany played out a thrilling match, which went into extra time. We focus on this game and the phrase last-gasp winner. Don’t forget we have hundreds more explanations of football language in our football glossary and we also have a page full of football cliches. If you have questions or comments about this or any other phrase then email us at: admin@languagecaster.com.
Last Gasp Winner
On Day 22 of the Euro 2024 competition the hosts Germany were defeated 2-1 by Spain in a pulsating match that went to extra time. The winning goal, a powerful header by Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute, was scored in the 119th minute. It was a last-gasp winner.
If something happens in the last minutes or seconds of a game, it is known as last-gasp (e.g. a last-gasp equaliser, last-gasp goal, last-gasp winner). The last-gasp refers to the final breath, so in football it means the very end of the match, right at the end of the game.
This competition has seen a lot of late goals scored in time added on (beyond the 90th minute). 12 so far. But this goal, is as late as you can get. The 119th minute of 120 minutes of football!
Here is an example from France24.com: ‘Germany’s Euro 2024 dream ended on Friday after Spain secured a place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over the tournament host thanks to a last-gasp Mikel Merino winner at the end of extra time.’
Another phrase we could use would be ‘to score at the death’.
Football Language – The Group Stages
Football Language – Last 16