Toni Kroos's shirt from the EURO semi-final in Warsaw – a bitter but formative chapter for an emerging generation.
In the semi-final of EURO 2012, Germany were considered favourites against Italy. But at the National Stadium in Warsaw, the DFB team endured an off night. Mario Balotelli scored twice to put the Squadra Azzurra 2:0 ahead.
Toni Kroos, who at this stage of his career was taking on ever more responsibility in the German midfield, battled tirelessly alongside his teammates to pull one back. Only in stoppage time did Mesut Özil convert a penalty for the consolation goal.
Despite the defeat, this match was part of the maturing process of a team that would become world champions two years later. The shirt recalls a significant evening on the way there.
