Dani Carvajal sent off as Spain end Germany’s Euros and Toni Kroos’ career

Germany’s participation in Euro 2024 as the host country has ended at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Spain. The result also means that Dani Carvajal and Nacho have brought an end to the career of Toni Kroos, who has now played his final game after 17 years of top flight football.

Kroos was at the heart of the action right from the third minute, when he flattened FC Barcelona midfielder Pedri in an early tackle which forced the Spaniard off the field of play. The German avoided a yellow card for the challenge, but it did lead to the introduction of Dani Olmo, who would go on to score Spain’s opening goal later in the tie.

The RB Leipzig attacker provided a fine finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner which left Manuel Neuer with no chance of reaching his shot, but Julian Wirtz equalised at the death as the ball dropped his way in the box with only minutes to go in the 90.

In extra-time, both teams fought hard with Germany having the better control of possession but failing to turn it into clear cut chances. The chance came on 119 minutes, when Antonio Rüdiger didn’t jump and allowed Dani Olmo’s cross to reach Mikel Merino in the box to head in.

Kroos’ swan song

This was Toni Kroos’ final ever career appearance, bringing the curtain down an incredible journey which took him from Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Germany to Real Madrid in Spain.

As always, he completed more passes than anyone else with 76, and a 92% completion rate, creating two chances in the process though his team-mates were unable to finish.

He got stuck in to the extreme, committing five fouls, only earning a yellow card with the fifth as he pulled down Dani Olmo. It added to his high number of duels, winning five and losing eight, with the loss figure more than any other player on the field.

Carvajal suspended for semi-final

Kroos won’t be the only man who won’t take part in a semi-final, as Dani Carvajal was one of several Spain players to be shown a yellow card and earn a suspension for the next game, and he added to that by taking a red card to stop Germany countering at the death.

In the case of the first, it was Carvajal outstretching his arm and handling the ball to prevent a Germany counter-attack which earned him a yellow card. In the fifth minute of injury time of the second half of extra-time, Carvajal was shown a red card as he hauled down Jamaal Musiala aggressively as he tried to counter.

Now, he will not be available and Jesús Navas will almost certainly take his place against either France or Portugal for a place in the final.