Manuel Akanji delivered an outstanding performance as Switzerland advanced to the final 16 of EURO 2024 with a 1-1 draw against hosts Germany in Frankfurt.

The City defender was his usual controlled and polished presence at the heart of a wonderfully excellent Swiss performance at the Frankfurt Arena in the Group A finals.

And for 91 minutes, it appeared that the Swiss were on their way to a spectacular victory after Dan Ndoye gave them a well-deserved 28-minute lead.

However, Julian Nagelsmann’s hosts, led by former City captain Ilkay Gundogan, equalised three minutes into stoppage time with a magnificent header from substitute Niklas Fullkrug.

Germany had dominated the early pressure and appeared to have seized the lead in the 17th minute when Robert Andrich’s 25-yard strike beat Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

However, referee Daniele Orsato was instructed to conduct a VAR review and determined that Jamal Musiala had committed a foul in the build-up.

The Swiss immediately began to attack, and it was Marat Yukin’s underdogs who struck first on 29 minutes, with Ndoye scoring his maiden international goal, stunning the hosts.

A clever Swiss buildup pinned the Germans back, and Ndoye’s instinctive right-footed close-range volley finished off an attractive ball from Remo Freuler brilliantly.

Germany attempted to boost the ante after the half, with Musiala forcing a 47th-minute save from Sommer and Kai Havertz sending a 63rd-minute header just wide.

Akanji then produced a magnificent 69th-minute block to deny Joshua Kimmich what appeared to be a likely equaliser as the hosts increased the pressure.

Switzerland had the ball in the net again eight minutes later when Ruben Vargas converted a quick counter-attack, but he was slightly offside.

It took a fantastic stop from German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to deny Swiss captain Granit Xhaka’s brilliant 88th-minute effort.

However, two minutes into stoppage time, Germany substitute Fullkrug soared to head in a dramatic equaliser, rescuing a point and confirming the hosts’ group triumph.

Switzerland advances as group runners-up, having reached the knockout stages in their last six tournaments, and will face the Group B runners-up in the knockout rounds. Germany will meet the runners-up in England’s Group C.

Hungary finished third on three points after defeating Scotland 1-0 in Stuttgart; the Scots ended last in Group A with one point.