Joachim Andersen breaks his silence with furious rant after VAR controversy helps Germany beat Denmark at Euro 2024

The Denmark defender was furious.

Joachim Andersen launched into a furious rant after two VAR decisions went against him as Germany beat Denmark at Euro 2024.

On Saturday evening Germany booked their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a 2-0 win against Denmark in the round-of-16.

A Kai Havertz penalty and a superb solo goal from Jamal Musiala saw the tournament hosts to victory, but neither goal was the main talking point of the night.

Denmark thought they had taken the lead early in the second half when Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen fired past Manuel Neuer from inside the penalty area.

Andersen was penalised for handball (ITV)

However, the goal was chalked off after VAR and the semi-automated offside system showed that part of Thomas Delaney’s foot was offside when he set-up Andersen to shoot.

Minutes later, Andersen was then penalised in his own 18-yard box when David Raum’s cross brushed the defender’s fingers.

Referee Michael Oliver’s on-field decision was ‘no penalty’, but after he was advised to review the incident using the pitch-side monitor the English official awarded a spot-kick, which Havertz converted.

It was a tough few minutes for Andersen, and after the match he made his feelings about the two incidents abundantly clear.

“It was crazy and not a penalty at all. I can’t run around with my arms behind my back and play football,” the defender told TV2.

“He’s [Raum] half a metre away from me and hits the ball on my hand, so I can’t see what I could do to prevent it.”

Andersen then addressed his disallowed goal, which would have been his first goal for Denmark.

Joachim Andersen was left fuming with VAR. [Getty]

“The offside call is also difficult to see. It’s so minimal that you really have to look for it. But the handball call is the craziest I’ve ever seen.

“Margins decided the game. If our goal had been allowed, I’m convinced we would have won the game.”

When asked if he had spoken to referee Oliver about the incidents, Andersen said: “You can’t speak to the referees nowadays.”

Andersen’s thoughts were echoed by Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, who covered the match as a pundit for ITV.

The Australian coach is a vocal critic of VAR, and he didn’t miss the opportunity to slam the use of technology in football.

“If I hear one more person say, they’re [VAR] not re-refereeing the game, I will blow up,” Postecoglou said.

“Seriously, that is exactly what they do. That is not why we brought in technology, for that decision, that decision to me is quite an easy one.”

Germany will face either Spain or Georgia in the quarter-finals in Stuttgart on July 5.

Featured Image Credit: Hayters TV, Getty and ITV

Topics: Euro 2024, Denmark, Germany, Football, Handball, VAR

Published 22:56 29 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Ange Postecoglou delivers stunning rant in ITV studio after Euro 2024 VAR controversy

Ange Postecoglou was furious with the decision

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou blasted VAR after watching Germany defeat Denmark at Euro 2024.

The hosts progressed into the last eight after a chaotic night in Dortmund to book a clash against either Spain or Georgia.

Referee Michael Oliver was forced to suspend proceedings during the first-half due to a lightning storm and a number of controversial VAR calls caused a stir on social media.

Germany thought they had took the lead after just four minutes but Joshua Kimmich was adjudged to have fouled in the build-up before Denmark had a goal ruled out for the tightest of offside decisions.

Amadou Onana sings controversial Kylian Mbappe chant
Credit: Royal Belgian Football Association

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The main talking point came in the second-half when Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen was penalised for a handball and Kai Havertz slotted the resulting penalty to give Germany the lead.

Bayern Munich man Jamal Musiala added the second goal of the game to seal the win but fans and the ex-players in the ITV studio were furious at the earlier decision which was not awarded on-field by Oliver. After a VAR check on the monitor, the spot kick was given.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright said those sort of decisions ‘would never sit right with him’ before Postecoglou sounded off on the use of VAR in the modern game.

Andersen was penalised for handball (ITV)

When questioned about the English referees at the tournament, the Tottenham boss said: “That’s the issue. Michael Oliver is not making this decision. That’s been my issue all along.

“He saw the action, he deemed it wasn’t necessary to be a penalty. That’s my problem.

“If I hear one more person say, they’re [VAR] not re-refereeing the game, I will blow up.

“Seriously, that is exactly what they do.”

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🗨️ “If I hear one more person saying that they’re [VAR] not re-refereeing the game, I will blow up” – Ange Postecoglou The panel explain and discuss the handball decision which led to Germany’s opening goal… Do you agree with the decision? 🤔 #Euro2024 | #GERDEN

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4:39 AM · Jun 30, 2024

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He continued: “That is not why we brought in technology, for that decision, that decision to me is quite an easy one.

“If that wasn’t paid [given], we wouldn’t be talking about it tomorrow.

“This is not on Michael Oliver. We’re criticising the technology which it what I’ve criticised consistently. I fully back the referee.

“If he didn’t pay that [give that], if he did pay that, we’d say ‘okay’. Technology is supposed to be definitive.”