2024-07-06 02:30:02
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos injured FC Barcelona and Spain star Pedri with a horror challenge … [+]
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos injured FC Barcelona and Spain star Pedri with a horror challenge early in the two countries’ Euros quarterfinal clash on Friday, with Catalan newspaper SPORT calling the act the veteran’s “last service for Real Madrid”.
The incident occurred in the fourth minute of the last eight showdown, which has been billed by many as the potential game of the competition so far.
It pits the only team to have won all four matches Spain against the hosts of the competition, and Kroos had plenty of ammo going into the tie when his former Real Madrid teammate Joselu said that La Roja hoped to “retire” the number 8.
This is because Kroos has already announced he will step down when Germany’s participation in the UEFA
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Clearly pumped up and keen to go all the way to the Euros decider in Berlin on July 14, Kroos entered into tackles like a man possessed.
Already stepping to Barca 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, he then charged into Pedri causing the midfielder to fly into the air and land awkwardly on his left knee.
Substituted by Dani Olmo as he asked to be replaced while stationed on the ground, Pedri left the pitch in the eighth minute holding back tears and covering his face.
Many feel that an unpunished Kroos should have at least been awarded a yellow card, and it has already been reported by journalists such as Onda Cero’s Alfredo Martinez that Pedri’s Euros involvement has been concluded by the horror collision.
Reacting to the incident, SPORT said that an “unleashed” Kroos had performed his “last service to Real Madrid” and “burst Pedri’s leg”.
The sight of Pedri leaving the field in such an emotional state won’t have been comforting to Barca fans who witnessed it earlier this year, when he similarly exited the first half of a La Liga meeting with Athletic Club upon tweaking his right quad.
Failing to do so since his breakout in 2020/2021, niggle-cursed Pedri at least got to finish Barca’s season and head to the Euros.
Thanks to Kroos, however, his campaign in Germany appears to be over regardless of how far Spain manages to go.
This is what Martinez explained, with Pedri having suffered “an internal lateral sprain of his left knee”.
SPORT‘s Toni Juanmarti also reported this citing Spanish Football Federation sources, adding that further tests will be conducted to rule out “major injuries”.
