According to reports, Rudiger was sent off with a red card after throwing an object at the referee in the closing minutes of the match, sparking widespread reactions in Germany. Some have called for his expulsion from the Germany national team, but Kroos defended the 32-year-old, calling the criticism unfair.

Felix Kroos wrote on Instagram: “There’s no denying he made a big mistake, but these so-called moralists demanding his expulsion from the national team and heavy punishments are really getting on my nerves!”

Kroos added in defense of Rudiger: “Let young players make mistakes and learn from them. None of us is perfect! No one! If you only want controversy-free players for the national team, good luck—go bring choir members instead!”

In contrast, Mario Basler, a former Germany national team player, is among the critics Kroos referred to as “moralists.” Basler said on RTL Aktuell: “Rudiger completely destroyed himself with this act. He went too far and completely lost control. Three weeks ago, he also made a threatening gesture. In my opinion, his behavior is no longer acceptable, not for the national team or anywhere else. The German Football Association stands for tolerance, and Rudiger is not a player who has shown such behavior for the first time.”