Germany has secured a spot in the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the first time in eight years, but uncertainties linger for coach Julian Nagelsmann’s Euro 2024 hosts.

In a turbulent match in Dortmund, Germany triumphed 2-0 over a resilient Denmark and endured a 25-minute thunderstorm delay that disrupted their early momentum.

Nagelsmann described the match as "bizarre" and "wild." Germany benefited from two crucial VAR reviews within a minute, both favoring the hosts. However, Nagelsmann’s unforced changes to his starting XI, especially the decision to replace the in-form Florian Wirtz with Leroy Sane, may face criticism.

After weathering the storm on Saturday, Germany hopes for a smoother week ahead, particularly with a potential clash against an in-form Spain on the horizon.

The first surprise of the unpredictable evening came with the announcement of the starting XI. Nagelsmann made two changes to his lineup for the first time in 2024, deviating from his usual practice of fielding his strongest XI unless prevented by injuries.

Nagelsmann’s choice to replace the defensively focused Maximilian Mittelstaedt with the more attack-minded David Raum rewarded Raum for his assist in Niclas Fuellkrug’s late equalizer against Switzerland.

The decision to drop Wirtz for Sane was puzzling, as Sane showed pace but struggled with control and timing. Nagelsmann explained that he wanted to "reward a good week of training and bring some speed into the game," noting that Sane has different characteristics than Wirtz.

Wirtz, who came on with nine minutes remaining, immediately improved the team's play, holding possession and finding runners.

Nagelsmann’s continued preference for Kai Havertz over Fuellkrug also raised eyebrows. Although Havertz converted a second-half penalty, he missed several other opportunities, including a crucial chance to seal the game with 30 minutes remaining.

Fortunately for Germany, Jamal Musiala demonstrated his killer instinct, scoring on the counterattack with 22 minutes left to secure the win. Musiala has now scored in three of Germany's four Euro 2024 games, establishing himself as the team's most reliable attacking force.

The match highlighted Germany’s ongoing issues with defending set pieces. This weakness was evident throughout the tournament, including conceding an own goal from a set piece against Scotland and narrowly escaping a goal against Hungary due to an offside ruling.

Early in the second half against Denmark, a free kick led to a chaotic situation in the box, with Joachim Andersen eventually turning the ball in. A lengthy VAR review showed Andersen was marginally offside.

Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand criticized the decision, showing reporters VAR images and questioning the use of the technology for such tight margins.

Shortly after the disallowed goal, Germany won a penalty at the other end, but the ease with which Andersen got his shot away will concern Nagelsmann.

With the quarterfinals approaching, defender Joshua Kimmich summarized the team’s current state, acknowledging the team’s potential while recognizing their vulnerabilities. "We're on a good run," said Kimmich. "We know that we can beat anyone - but that we can also be beaten."

Germany will need to address these issues as they prepare for a likely challenging match against Spain, hoping to extend their successful run in Euro 2024.