'I've held back so far' - Toni Kroos blasts referee Anthony Taylor for failing to give penalty for Marc Cucurella handball as Germany crashed out of Euro 2024 against Spain

Spain and Germany had played possibly the best game of Euro 2024 when they faced each other in the quarter-final of the tournament in Stuttgart. As Spain won in extra-time, German fans and players were miffed with Taylor not having called a penalty on Cucurella's handball in the 106th minute of the clash despite the ball clearly having hit the Chelsea defender's hand away from his body.

After the game, it was explained that the penalty was not called by VAR due to UEFA head of referees, Roberto Rosetti having stated that an accidental handball cannot be called if the hand is in a vertical position close to the defender's body. It is also believed that Cucurella bringing his arm in is a factor, as that's deemed to be 'removing a possible barrier'. However, Kroos believes he knows why Taylor denied them the penalty.

Speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast, the midfielder said: "I've held back so far. I have to say, I didn't see it at all in the game. I wasn't in a position to see that it was a relatively clear handball. In that moment, you're not so angry with the referee because you can't really judge it yourself.

"Of course, I then paid attention to the referee. He was of the opinion that he didn't even have to look at it, or rather the video referee was of the opinion that he should tell him: 'You don't have to look at it, it's not handball'.

"I only got angry when I saw it after the game. I think he should have at least looked at it. But I think the problem is: he knew that if he looked at it, he would have to give it. And I had the feeling that he didn't necessarily want to give it in a game like that.

"The referees themselves don't know 100 per cent how the interpretation is in this case. In retrospect, it's bitter, of course, when you see the whole outcome or the importance of a goal at that point. In the end, all we could do was accept it."

A Mikel Merino goal in the 119th minute meant that Spain defeated Germany in what was Kroos' last professional match for club and country as he had announced his retirement ahead of his final league game with Real Madrid.