European Football Championship - "Not deserved": European Championship final stop after Spain shock
Julian Nagelsmann spoke with a calm voice, but emotionally, the German trainer seemed heavily affected. Loud party music echoed from the boxes as Nagelsmann tried to explain the EURO elimination of the German football team in the quarterfinals against the unbeatable Spaniards to MagentaTV. "Today was not deserved", Nagelsmann said. "We invested more, but they were the luckier ones."
In the dressing room, Toni Kroos was present for his farewell, and Joshua Kimmich was responsible for the consoling words, as Nagelsmann reported. The 34-year-old Kroos experienced his last professional football match in Stuttgart in a painful way, ending in a 1:2 (1:1, 0:0). After an exciting comeback and a self-sacrificing fight, Mikel Merino of Spain scored in the 119th minute - at least the elimination through penalties would have been deserved for Kroos and the German team.
"We would have liked to give him a better farewell, because he deserved it", Nagelsmann said about Kroos. "He is just an incredible guy with an exceptional career, a role model for many."
Thousands of fans in the stands of Stuttgart's stadium and in fan zones across the country shed tears. The dream of the fourth EM title was two steps away from the final, but the team's morale was dampened. Florian Wirtz (89.) saved the team with his goal for a phase full of courage and winning spirit and kept them in the competition. Spain took the lead through Dani Olmo (51 minutes).
"The disappointment is huge, a home EURO comes only once in a lifetime", Kimmich said. "We can't blame ourselves for much, except that we didn't seize the opportunities. Bitter, very bitter."
Kroos' bitter farewell
The player, who was limping from cramps, was embraced by many Spanish players after his 114th international match. It remains to be seen how it will continue for Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller in the national team.
"We all gave everything not to lose. We were very close, so it's even more bitter", Kroos said. "At the moment, the tournament exit is in the foreground, because we all had a big goal. This dream is shattered, but we will realize in the coming days that we have played a good tournament." It's part of "being extremely sad".
The big build-up with fan favorite Niclas Füllkrug and the best tournament performance after the goal were not rewarded – this time, the German super joker could not force luck. While the Spanish team, with Daniel Carvajal receiving a yellow-red card (120+5), plays for their fourth EURO star, Nagelsmann has to go on vacation earlier than expected, as he wanted to celebrate his 37th birthday with the EM trophy in two weeks.
The German professionals, led by captain Ilkay Gündogan, left the EURO stage disappointed. From the German football depression in the autumn of 2023, a spirit of renewal has emerged. Completely detached - as in the recycled fan hit - we go towards the WM 2026 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Many fouls and interruptions.
"Don't hide it!", Nagelsmann had announced for the quarter-final - and surprisingly, Emre Can instead of Robert Andrich was nominated for the starting line-up. The tension among the national players was noticeable in the early stages. After Pedri's shot just 52 seconds in, a stirring moment that Neuer had no trouble dealing with, the German team had great difficulty getting into the game.
Due to numerous fouls and petty infringements, little fluid play was possible. Kroos was fortunate that one of his two fouls in the first five minutes was not punished with a yellow card directly. The world champion tripped Pedri, resulting in an early substitution for the 21-year-old Spanish team leader and thinker (8.). For the young Spanish playmaker, Olmo came into the game.
The Spaniards were intimidated by the Germans' early play - the German team's strategy in the all-or-nothing game was clear. However, the harsh defending of the German team did not bring them the security they desired. A telling sign: After a mistake from Gündogan, Olmo stormed towards Neuer's goal, Rudiger fouled him to prevent the goal, and saw his second yellow card of the tournament.
Little room for Musiala
When there was action in the offensive, it was on the right side. Joshua Kimmich provided in the middle for Kai Havertz, but his header came too centrally towards the Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón (21). The two offensive wingers, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané, initially found no room for their technique and speed. The Danes in the round of 16 (2:0) seemed to have singled out Musiala as the German player to neutralize. David Raum could not keep up with Musiala's backward movement behind him with fouls.
Spain did not always play at world-class level. Even the group leaders, who had the most points in the group stage, did not bring all their passes to bear and struggled with the early pressing of the national team. The English referee Anthony Taylor could have shown more than three yellow cards in the first half. "A game on a high tactical level," said former national player Michael Ballack with a lot of experience with Spain at MagentaTV about the first half. It was clear early on: Who fell behind would have big problems.
Neuer had to intervene in the saves from Aymeric Laporte (23) and Olmo (39). The Spanish team's quick ball win against the passive Havertz preceded the chance for the Spaniards. With the 0:0 at halftime, the German national team players could be more satisfied than the Spaniards.
Nagelsmann corrected - Olmo scores
Nagelsmann corrected his team selections for the second half: Can was replaced by Andrich, and Wirtz played instead of Sané. The next really good chance belonged to the Spanish team: Morata pushed past Tah in the penalty area and scored, but the ball went over Neuer's goal. The next Spanish shot was saved.
There was too much passivity against Spain's talent Lamine Yamal, in the middle Kroos gave Olmo too much room. The 26-year-old finished flat and accurately - and the Spanish team celebrated. It became very difficult for the German team.
The fans on the sidelines chanted "Super Germany!" but the deficit held back the national players. Andrich looked for a foul on Nico Williams and was shown the yellow card (56.). Nagelsmann brought on fan favorite Füllkrug for Gündogan as a striker, who ran onto the pitch to loud cheers from the fans (57.).
The German team struggled on. Time and again, Germany got stuck at the Spanish penalty area or had bad luck, like Füllkrug's post goal. For the closing phase, Müller came on for Tah (80.), all that mattered was somehow making up the difference. Then came Wirtz and converted from Kimmich's assist. The decision had to be made in extra time, where Wirtz came very close but just missed (105.+1). Then came the bitter blow just before the penalty shootout.
- The DFB selection, led by captain Ilkay Gündogan, left the EURO stage disappointed.
- Julian Nagelsmann mentioned Niclas Füllkrug's big build-up and the team's best tournament performance.
- In the dressing room, Toni Kroos shared some consoling words with his teammates.
- The German national team faced Spain in the quarterfinals of the European Football Championship.
- Many fans in the stands and across the country felt the bitter defeat heavily.
- David Raum had a difficult time keeping up with Jamal Musiala's movements.
- Mikel Merino scored the deciding goal in the 119th minute for Spain.
- Emre Can was unexpectedly nominated for the starting line-up instead of Robert Andrich.
- Joshua Kimmich provided for Kai Havertz in the middle, but his header came too centrally.
- Manuel Neuer had to intervene in several key saves during the match.
- Thomas Müller came on in the closing stages, all the team cared about was making up the deficit.
- With Germany's elimination, Mikel Merino's Spanish team advanced to play for their fourth EURO star.
- MagentaTV covered the tournament extensively, including Julian Nagelsmann's post-match analysis and emotions.
