The Euro 2024 quarter-final between Spain and Germany ended in a 2-1 victory for La Roja after extra time, but not without controversy.

One of the match’s most contentious moments occurred during the additional 30-minute period when the referee, Anthony Taylor, decided not to award a penalty to the host nation, Spain.

The incident involved Marc Cucurella, who appeared to block a shot from Jamal Musiala with his arm.

However, Taylor, supported by VAR, chose not to grant a penalty. This decision ignited fury within the German camp.

According to UEFA guidelines, detailed by ESPN’s Dale Johnson, Taylor’s decision adhered to the rules. Specifically, if a player’s arm is close to their body, pointing predominantly down or vertically, or positioned behind the line of the body when the ball makes contact, it is not considered an offense.

Taylor applied these criteria in the case involving Cucurella, which justified the non-award of the penalty.

Despite this clarification, the German team and their supporters remain dissatisfied with the ruling. Nonetheless, the decision is unlikely to be revisited as Spain shifts focus to their upcoming semi-final clash against France on Tuesday evening in Munich.

While the German side grapples with the controversial decision, Spain looks ahead, leaving the incident behind as they prepare for their crucial match.

Italy international Leonardo Bonucci has announced his retirement at the age of 37, concluding his career with Fenerbahce. “I want to finish my career with a cup,” he stated.

Bonucci joined Fenerbahce in the January transfer window after an unsuccessful stint at Union Berlin last summer.

He aimed to perform well enough this season to secure a spot in the EURO 2024 squad. However, when Luciano Spalletti omitted him from the preliminary list, Bonucci decided it was time to retire.

“It was a pleasure for me to be a part of this wonderful family,” Bonucci told the official Fenerbahce website. “I tried to show my best, on and off the field, but most importantly, we will fight our last battle tomorrow. I want to finish my career with a cup, and we have the opportunity to become champions tomorrow.”

Bonucci was honored with a special jersey signed by all his teammates in Istanbul ahead of the Super Lig showdown with Istanbulspor. Fenerbahce also needs Galatasaray to lose to Konyaspor to claim the title.

Bonucci, who turned 37 on May 1, spent most of his career at Juventus from 2010 to 2023, except for a brief spell at Milan during the 2017-18 season. His other clubs included Inter, Treviso, Pisa, Genoa, and Bari.

The central defender earned 121 caps for Italy, scored eight goals, and was part of the squad that won the EURO 2020 tournament.

Marcus Rashford has been left out of England’s squad for Euro 2024.

The 26-year-old forward has had a lackluster season at Manchester United, scoring only eight goals in all competitions under Erik ten Hag.

His decline in form has seen Alejandro Garnacho preferred on the left wing in recent weeks. Additionally, Rashford has been plagued by several injury issues throughout the campaign.

Since his debut in May 2016, Rashford has earned 60 caps and scored 17 goals for England.

Despite his previous performances, including being a standout player at the 2022 Qatar World Cup where he scored three goals in five games, his recent struggles have impacted his selection.

Gareth Southgate is set to announce an expanded preliminary squad for the tournament in Germany at 2pm BST this afternoon, which will be trimmed to 26 players before the UEFA deadline on June 7. England’s campaign kicks off against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.

While Manchester United is open to selling Rashford if a significant offer is made and he expresses a desire to leave, they are not actively seeking to offload him. The club prefers to retain him and help him regain his previous form.

Rashford signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford last July, extending his stay until June 2028. This extension followed his most prolific scoring season, where he netted 30 goals in 56 matches across all competitions.