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.

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.