Germany’s fairytale run in the UEFA Euro 2024 unfortunately came to an end on Friday night. The hosts were knocked out of the European tournament at the hands of Spain by clinching a 2-1 victory to progress through the semi-finals. While the aftermath saw Julian Nagelsmann demand changes in the handball rule, German icon Bastian Schweinsteiger has slammed referee Anthony Taylor and VAR for not giving a penalty that is awarded in ‘9 out of 10 cases.’

Addressing his nation’s exit from the tournament, the former center-back took to X and wrote, “A bitter end for @DFB_Team at the European Championships at home. After a weak first half, @J__Nagelsmann reacted and made the right substitutions. The second half and extra time clearly went to Germany. In 9 out of 10 cases, a penalty is awarded when @JamalMusiala shoots. I can’t understand why the VAR didn’t intervene. Despite the bitter end, the team can be proud of their performance and appearance!”

Indeed, a lot of talking points from Schweinsteiger. While he praised Nagelsmann and the players for their efforts, the Bayern Munich icon wasn’t pleased with the officiating from Taylor. Notably, his discontent stems from the English referee’s decision to not give a crucial penalty to Germany. The incident occurred when Jamal Musiala’s powerful shot from outside the box struck Marc Cucurella’s left hand as it headed towards the goal. Despite the Spanish player being inside the penalty area, the referee denied the penalty appeal.

This decision left German fans distraught, feeling that their impressive comeback deserved to be rewarded with a win. While Schweinsteiger must be saddened by the referee’s calls, Nagelsmann, on the other hand, believes that Germany wasn’t robbed after all.

Julian Nagelsmann does not feel ‘cheated’ despite Anthony Taylor breaking Germany’s heart

During the post-match presser, Julian Nagelsmann saved Anthony Taylor from some criticism regarding his decision to not give a penalty. However, the German tactician did demand a revision in the handball rule. “There is a rule and I hope there is no wrong decision. They applied the rule and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated. For me, the question is about making it more practical, more logical, in terms of how this rule is assessed. I say this for football [in general] not today,” he said.

Usually, referees consider the player’s intention and hand position when deciding on a penalty. In this instance, Cucurella’s hand was moving towards his body and was vertically positioned, suggesting he did not intend to handle the ball. Consequently, the penalty may not have been awarded due to the vertical position of his hand. However, Nagelsmann argued that it varies from body to body and demanded that the ball moment should rather be taken into account.

Penalty or no penalty, the opinions are countless. Perhaps Julian Nagelsmann may have a point about questioning the rule, rather than pointing fingers at Anthony Taylor. Regardless, we would like to know your thoughts on the same.