Emotions from the first to the last minute, sky-high pace, goals, injuries, twists and turns and, even, controversy. Spain-Francethe first quarter-final of Euro 2024, was a real advertisement for football, which saw the Iberian national team emerge victorious with a goal by Mikel Merino in the 119th minute, after Dani Olmo’s goal in the 51st minute that had opened the match and Wirtz’s equaliser ninety seconds from the ninetieth minute.
Taylor in the crosshairs, is he missing a penalty?
In between, many other things, from Pedri’s injury after less than eight minutes due to a hard foul by Kroos, to the controversy in the 107th minute for a penalty loudly claimed by the Germans for a handball by Cucurella who blocked a shot by Musiala headed towards the goal. A very wide arm from the Spanish defender but no penalty from the field awarded by Taylor and no intervention by the VAR, for a very questionable decision. An understandable choice only if the VAR room had detected an offside by Fullkrug at the start of the action, otherwise it would be truly inexplicable.
Last match of his career for Kroos.
He leaves with a defeat in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 Toni Kroos, a midfielder who made football history. After the match, the German said: “I’m happy that I was able to contribute to German football improving a little. But today we are extremely sad. We had a great goal, and now this dream has vanished. When you come so close, it is extremely bitter to accept it.”