Nagelsmann "fights back tears" after dramatic exit against Spain

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted he was "fighting back tears" after watching his side crash out of Euro 2024 with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Spain on Friday.

Spain took the lead through Dani Olmo early in the second half before Florian Wirtz equalised late on to send the game into extra time.

Germany created numerous chances to make it 2-1, but were ultimately crashed out following Mikel Merino's late winner.

Given the way the game had unfolded, Nagelsmann found the defeat hard to swallow.

"We did well in the second half. We were much closer to the winner than the Spanish," said Nagelsmann.

"In the end, I don't think we were necessarily much better, but we were a bit clearer in the final third. It hurts because we can only make up for it in two years' time. And there will probably never be another tournament at home in my career.

"If we had been listless, we would have deserved to lose and we wouldn't be standing here fighting back tears.

“Tomorrow night we'll get together again. I don't know what the plan is now, because I didn't plan for an elimination. The job for me and my team now is to think about the squad and what is the right thing to do in the Nations League,” said the Germany coach.

The 36-year-old also said he felt Germany should have been awarded a penalty when Jamal Musiala's shot hit Marc Cucurella's hand in extra time.

"For years I have been trying to understand why penalties are not awarded based on the situation.

"It's not a big unnatural movement. But when the ball is clearly on target, the Spaniard stops it with his hand. He doesn't do it on purpose, but it doesn't matter.

“The penalty we got against Denmark was much less clear. I can't understand why they don't call it when you have 48,000 replays.”