HERZOGENAURACH, Germany: An emotional Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said Saturday the team’s “belief in ourselves has returned” despite a 2-1 extra-time elimination by Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Germany pushed Spain all the way in Stuttgart on Friday, coming from a goal down to send the game into extra time when Florian Wirtz scored an 89th-minute equalizer.
The host nation had a penalty claim denied late before conceding a Mikel Merino goal in the 119th minute.
The tearful coach praised the team after almost a decade of failures at major tournaments and said the performances, built on passionate home support, had bridged gaps between fans and the national team.
“The faith has grown, (the fans) believe in us again,” Nagelsmann told reporters at Germany’s base camp in the Bavarian village of Herzogenaurach.
“A few months ago it would have been unthinkable for us to come back from a goal down.
“You can tell I’m fighting back tears because it was very emotional. I’ve always said we need the fans behind us across the country.
“From March onwards, it was clear that the fans felt something. When we see the videos of fans, it’s emotional. We would have liked to have given the supporters even more.”
Nagelsmann took over in September after Hansi Flick became the first coach in Germany history to be sacked.
After two successive World Cup group stage eliminations and a last 16 loss to England at the Euros in 2021, Germany won just three of 11 games in 2023, giving rise to fears of a disastrous showing on home soil.
The 36-year-old coach however steadied the ship, bringing in a host of new players and dropping several big names from the squad.
Friday’s loss was Germany’s first defeat in 2024 after an eight-game run which included wins over France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Asked if he had successfully reset the nation’s hopes, Nagelsmann said: “I think we all saw that the hard drive has been cleaned.
“I don’t know if it has definitely been completely erased, but it definitely has been cleaned.
“We are much more solid and our belief in ourselves has grown.”
Considered young for a national coach, the former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig manager was only given a nine-month contract when appointed.
In April, the coach however extended his deal by two years, taking him past the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking immediately after the match, Nagelsmann said “we want to become world champions” and on Saturday told reporters he wishes the next major tournament was sooner.
“That’s the bitter thing about being a national coach, there’s too much time between tournaments for you to get back on the attack.
“I’m very happy I extended my deal. I’m looking forward to attacking again but I need a couple of days before I’m ready.”
Emotional Nagelsmann lauds returned belief despite Germany’s Euros exit
https://arab.news/4pb3r
Emotional Nagelsmann lauds returned belief despite Germany’s Euros exit
- “A few months ago it would have been unthinkable for us to come back from a goal down,” Julian Nagelsmann said
- “From March onwards, it was clear that the fans felt something. When we see the videos of fans, it’s emotional. We would have liked to have given the supporters even more“
Rajkovic excels as Al-Ittihad cruise to victory against Al-Shabab
- Al-Ittihad secure fifth Saudi Pro League win of the season with a 2-0 victory
JEDDAH: It has not been the start to the season that Al-Ittihad fans had anticipated. Nevertheless, on their return to Saudi Pro League action after a 36-day hiatus, the defending champions delivered a performance that offered renewed confidence ahead of a demanding run of seven matches in the space of 30 days.
The opening exchanges proved far from straightforward for The Tigers.
Attempting to play out from the back, they were punished within the first two minutes as Abdullah Matuq pounced on a mistake to find himself one-on-one with Predrag Rajkovic, only for the Serbian goalkeeper to produce the first of several crucial saves. Just 60 seconds later, Rajkovic was called into action again, this time denying a header from a corner.
Momentum soon shifted. Roger Fernandes began to cause problems down the left wing, his quick footwork getting the better of Al-Shabab’s defence before he delivered a low cross into the box. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, aided by Karim Benzema’s intelligent screening of Saad Balobaid, met it to open the scoring in the 16th minute.
Al-Ittihad came close to doubling their advantage in the 28th minute. Mohannad Al-Shangeeti struck the far post with a powerful effort, before his follow-up attempt narrowly missed the target, drifting wide of Marcelo Grohe’s goal.
Grohe was later called upon to keep Al-Shabab in the contest, producing a fine save in the 58th minute to deny Benzema after the Frenchman was released by a perfectly weighted pass from Steven Bergwijn.
Al-Ittihad continued to dominate possession, though Imanol Alguacil’s side managed to limit Fernandes’ influence by committing extra defensive cover on the left flank.
That adjustment failed to account for Al-Shangeeti’s runs from deep, as he surged down the right to find Bergwijn, who finished first time to seal the contest for the hosts in the 85th minute.
Late substitute Abdulaziz Al-Bishi thought he had added a third in the closing stages, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The win lifts Al-Ittihad into sixth place on 17 points, while Al-Shabab remain just two points above the relegation zone, extending their winless run to eight matches since their Matchday 2 victory over Al-Hazem.
