In the battle of what was billed “the early final” of the 2024 European Championship, two of the favorites in Spain and Germany met in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Buoyed by a last minute equalize in normal time, Germany roared into extra time with passion, belief and a hunger to score a goal. Then, in the 105th minute, the ball fell to Germany forward Jamal Musiala in the box, he rocketed a shot that was heading into the far corner of the net before Spain defender Marc Cucurella drew his arm in and blocked the ball.
That was a handball, right?
No, says the referee.
Play is waved on, Spain would score a last minute winner and Germany would exit the tournament think of what could have been. Even months later, the moment is still bitter for Musiala, though he knows he could not have done any more: “I try not to think back. I couldn’t have done much differently in that move,” Musiala affirms, via @iMiaSanMia. “If I had shot a little further to the side [away from Cucurella], the ball might not have reached the goal. Sometimes things go our way, sometimes they don’t.”
The chance to win a European Championship at home will likely never come again for Musiala or any of the other players in the squad. But more opportunities to win will come the Bayern Munich player’s way, starting with the Bundesliga and Champions League this season. That time things went awry. Next time Musiala will do his utmost to ensure it will not.
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