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.

England boasts the most valuable squad at this summer’s Euros, with Gareth Southgate’s team valued at a staggering £1.29 billion.

Despite a disappointing 1-0 loss to Iceland in their final warm-up game at Wembley, England remains the favorite to win the tournament, thanks to their roster of superstar players.

Key names contributing to this high valuation include Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, and Bukayo Saka.

Notably, the squad’s value could have been even higher had Southgate included Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish.

England’s squad is worth £250 million more than the next highest, France, which is valued at £1.04 billion. This substantial valuation helps explain why England and France are the top favorites for the tournament.

Following England and France are Portugal with a squad worth £890 million, Spain at £820 million, and hosts Germany rounding out the top five with a valuation of £722 million.

Portugal’s squad features highly valued players like Rafael Leao, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Joao Palhinha, each valued at over £50 million.

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.