Germany gaffer Julian Nagelsmann cut a positive and proud figure after his side’s quarter final Euro 2024 exit in the hands of Spain, believing his team were better.
The hosts exited the competition in painful fashion following a dramatic winner in extra-time in Friday’s quarter final.
Spain’s Mikel Merino headed home with less than a minute left of the 120, with the game finely poised for penalties thanks to Florian Wirtz’s 89th equaliser after the opener from Dani Olmo.
Nagelsmann extended praises to La Roja for their progesssion to the last four but felt his players deserved more after their effort.
“The whole game was too open and then in the second half we reacted with our personnel in a good way and we came better into the game,” Nagelsmann said to newsmen.
“And after the 60th minute we were clearly the better team with many clear chances and towards the end I think that we scored was well deserved.
“With the exception of the first five minutes of the second half of extra time I think it was almost only us who wanted to win.”
Despite the exit of the Germans, Nagelsmann was filled with pride about how they approached Euro 2024 and hopes his squad can also be a uniting tool for the country.
“I think what was reproached towards the national team in the past, that they didn’t want to win, that they didn’t show enough will to win, I think today you couldn’t see that for one second,” he added.
“The players invested everything on the pitch. I said to them they should take that with them, that we are a country where too much is said in too many situations, looking at many situations with a very dark perspective.
“I hope that this symbiosis between football supporters and the national team can happen also in the midst of our society, that we understand as a society that we can create something, that we can move things.”
Germany had opportunities to find the back of the net both before the Wirtz equaliser and afterwards, with Niclas Füllkrug hitting the post, before they were stunned by the Spaniards.
“We had the chances, we missed the goal only by two centimetres so I think we were really into the game and then with the last chance we conceded,” Nagelsmann continued.
“I don’t know if we opened up too much, if we risked too much, if someone wants to ask me that question I would say no.
“But unfortunately in that situation we didn’t have enough pressure on the wing and Dani Olmo was able to play this super nice cross.”
