So this is what happens when the coming force runs, once again, into its own historically immovable object.
Spain, the pre-tournament favourites for these European Championships, are threatening to take the women’s game to new heights, shattering attendance records in continental and home fixtures, proud owners of a thriving domestic league that has produced a national team of unrivalled technical brilliance, infused chiefly with genius of the (almost) all-conquering Barcelona.
But never before have they beaten Germany and following a terrific contest at the Brentford Community Stadium - by some distance the best of these Euros so far - the hoodoo remains very much in tact, after goals from Klara Buhl and Alexandra Popp earned the eight-times champions a 2-0 victory.
The immediate upshot is that Germany will qualify from Group B as winners with a game to spare, while Spain appear on collision course for a quarter-final meeting with England, provided they can clinch second spot in what is now a winner-takes-all third game against Denmark.
