Marc Cucurella smiles away his supposed handball against Germany, Toni Kroos bids farewell to the football stage and the own-goal record falters. The European Championship splinters from the match-free Sunday.
Cucurella and his (non-)hand
Spain defender Marc Cucurella has reacted with humor to the discussions surrounding his alleged handball in the European Championship quarter-final against Germany (2:1 n.V.). He is a player, said the 25-year-old in the Spanish camp on Sunday. "If the referees say it's not a handball, then of course I respect that as a player," explained Cucurella and laughed. When asked about the refereeing experts who had also not judged the scene to be a handball, he said: "If you tell me the refereeing experts say it's not a handball, then it's not a handball." Cucurella had received a shot from Jamal Musiala in the penalty area in extra time on Friday.
Kroos' wife goes first
Toni Kroos said his final farewell to the football stage with thank-you messages on social media. First and foremost came his wife, who also accompanied the end of her husband's career with emotional words on Instagram on Saturday. The 34-year-old wrote in English to his partner on Instagram on Sunday: "Thank you to my beautiful wife @jessica_kroos for being who you are. This success would never have been possible without you. It's ours together!" Kroos' career as a professional footballer came to an end on Friday evening with the German national team's quarter-final exit at the home European Championships against Spain.
The shaky own goal record
The European Championship in Germany is still a tournament of own goals. Mert Müldür scored his tenth own goal in Turkey's 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands on Saturday. With three games to go, Turkey are now one "false goal" away from equalling the record set at Euro 2021, which is only three years old. The Turks hit the wrong net for the second time in their fifth game. Müldür's team-mate Samet Akaydin's misplaced back pass in the 3-0 defeat to Portugal is likely to remain the most curious own goal of the European Championships.
