Julian Nagelsmann on Germany’s EURO 2024 elimination: “If we had performed badly, it would have been deserved”

Speaking to the media after their 2-1 loss to Spain in extra-time, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has given his thoughts on the loss and the tournament as a whole.

When asked by ARD (via @iMiaSanMia) about the elimination, Nagelsmann said:

“It hurts because we won’t be able to do better for another two years. And I probably won’t have another home tournament in my career. If we had performed badly, it would have been deserved and then we wouldn’t have to stand here and fight back tears. I don’t even know what the plan is now because I didn’t plan on being eliminated. My team and I have the job of thinking about the squad now and what is the right thing to do in the Nations League in September”

On what he told the players after the loss, Nagelsmann said:

“I told the players that they don’t deserve. We’re all missing our families, but none of us wanted to leave. From the beginning of these last six weeks, there’s been a very good atmosphere in the group. You could tell we gave everything to win this game. Every player, whether they started or were on the bench, gave everything they had to win the game. It’s a painful one.”

Germany was eliminated from the quarter-final stage of EURO 2024 after an extra-time loss to Spain. The Spanish had taken the lead through RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo in the second half but Germany needed a late Florian Wirtz equaliser to give them hope and send them into extra-time.

A common theme throughout the game was Germany’s wastefulness in front of goal and that was the same again in extra-time where Germany had the momentum. However, right at the end, Mikel Merino headed in an Olmo cross to send Spain into the semi-finals. 

The elimination signals the end of the career of Toni Kroos, while the futures of Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer and Ilkay Gündogan are currently up in the air.

GGFN | Jack Meenan