The trains are no longer to be relied upon in Germany. It has been the most surprising element of Euro 2024 for anybody who basked in the smooth operation of the World Cup finals 18 years ago, and it has ruined a well-worn national stereotype.

For more 90 minutes in Frankfurt, Julian Nagelsmann’s team, such a reassuring model of efficiency through their first two games, were on the blink as well. Trailing to Switzerland, seconds from defeat and ceding top spot in Group A to their neutral Alpine neighbours.

Until Niclas Fullkrug rode to the rescue. Fullkrug is a man Germany have come to rely on and he delivered again. This time in the second minute of stoppage time, with his head on the end of a splendid cross, whipped in from the left by David Raum.

‘It’s those moments when we need him,’ said Naglesmann. ‘He delivers the argument for both jobs, starting and coming from the bench. It’s good luck and bad luck for him that he is so good in the role. It wasn’t an easy header.’

As the ball settled in the net and the home crowd erupted, the two teams switched places at the top of the group and changed destinations. The Germans go to Dortmund to face the runners-up from England’s Group C. ‘It doesn’t make sense to speak about preferences,’ said Naglesmann.

The Swiss go to Berlin to face the runners-up from Group B, Italy if they avoid defeat against Croatia.

For a large part of the night, it looked likely to be the other way round. Switzerland led from the 28th minute when Dan Ndoye gave Jonathan Tah the slip and scored on the volley at full stretch from a Remo Freuler cross. There was a hint of offside but this time the goal survived the technology booth.

Germany, who made a positive start, thought they had the lead when a shot from distance by Robert Andrich kicked up off a length and made goalkeeper Yann Sommer look rather foolish as he failed to read the bounce.

This was the spongey surface that cut up so badly when England played Denmark on Thursday and it was little better. Large slices tore up under foot and the ball rolled slowly, hindering the hosts mostly as the team dominating possession.

Sommer got away with his mistake when the VAR intervened to indicate a foul by Jamal Musiala on Michel Aebischer as he slid in to reach cross from the left before it came out to Andrich.

The decision seemed fussy. Forwards are expected to challenge for the ball in front of goal and defenders expect contact, but Italian referee Daniele Orsato changed his mind after checking the replay on the monitor and ruled the goal out.

Ndoye, quick and nimble, always willing to run behind defenders, went close to a second before half time, breaking clear behind Antonio Rudiger and whipping a low shot across goal. Manuel Neuer was beaten and grateful to see it slide narrowly wide.

Switzerland sat back in the second half and massed their defensive ranks. They invited Germany to venture forward while choosing their moments to spring out and counter at pace. Sommer made saves, his defensive shield stood firm and they rode their luck.

Anxiety levels rose, and Ruben Vargas thought he had made it 2-0 late in the game, a wonderful crisp finish only to find he was offside. There would have been no way back from that. Then Neuer made a flying save from Granit Xhaka before Fullkrug struck.

‘I’m proud of my team,’ said Swiss boss Murat Yakin said: ‘A little bit sad we could not take the victory but there was a lot of pressure from the Germans and we lost a little bit of energy. In the end, we can live with this draw.

‘You can take second in Group B or the second in Group B, and the opponent also has to look out for us. We have a certain standing for which we’ve worked hard.’