Rudiger was substituted out of the game as Real Madrid was losing to Barcelona, and he was given a red card for his actions. The incident occurred during a heated Clásico match, with Rudiger having struggled with knee problems in the weeks leading up to the game.

Kroos expressed his support for Rudiger in a recent interview, saying that he agrees with Rudiger's brother Felix, who believes that Rudiger's actions were a result of a series of unfortunate events. Kroos also pointed out that many people who are now calling for Rudiger's exclusion from the national team might have been guilty of similar infractions in the past.

Kroos wrote to Rudiger after the match and acknowledged that his actions were likely a series of mistakes. He urged fans to be careful not to jump to conclusions and to understand the context of the situation.

Rudiger's actions have also been criticized by Lothar Matthaus, the captain of the German national team that won the World Cup. Matthaus described Rudiger's behavior as "out of control" and said that he should be a role model for young players. Matthaus believes that a double-digit ban is more fitting for Rudiger's actions.