Back to Stuttgart: Nagelsmann Reflects on the Bitter Defeat Against Spain
deepest disappointment recorded by Nagelsmann following the defeat
In nearly a year since Germany's heartbreaking exit at the home Euro, the bitterness of that quarter-final loss against Spain lingers. Now, the DFB team returns to Stuttgart for the Nations League third-place match.
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann has labelled that Euro quarter-final defeat as the "most bitter" of his career. "It was a gut-wrenching day in my football journey," he said, looking ahead to Sunday's (3:00 PM/RTL, DAZN, and ntv.de live ticker) clash with World Cup runners-up France, who we ousted in the Euro 2020 semifinals. The last time Germany graced the pitches of Stuttgart was for that fateful Euro quarter-final, where they suffered a 1:2 defeat in extra time.
At the press conference preceding the match, Nagelsmann reminisced about the dramatic Euro quarter-final. Former Leipzig player Dani Olmo gave Spain the lead in the 51st minute. DFB national player Florian Wirtz equalized just before the whistle, sending the game into extra time. "We score the equalizer in the 89th minute and concede the winning goal in the 119th minute. It doesn't get much crueler than that," Nagelsmann recounted.
Midfielder Pascal Groß echoed Nagelsmann's sentiments. "I may not have played that match, but I can say without a doubt that it was the most bitter defeat of my career," the 33-year-old said. He lauded Wirtz's goal, admitting he had never felt such emotions as a teammate following a goal. "Even though we were devastatingly close to a historic win, that's what stings," he admitted. Both players downplayed the impact of the Stuttgart return and the echoes of the Spain match on the game against France.
Nagelsmann has hinted at some changes in the starting lineup compared to the previous defeat but has remained tight-lipped on the specifics. Groß is a likely starter. The head coach also urged his team to up their performance, claiming that the match still offered numerous aspects, despite it being deemed a "small" final.
With the stars aligning for a third duel between Spain and Germany in the Nations League, Nagelsmann need not worry about motivation: "It's still the German national A team. If I have to motivate them every time, then I need to start thinking of reshuffling the squad. Football's a beautiful game; no one has to slave away in the fields tomorrow."
Community aid initiatives could be organised within the football community in Stuttgart, providing a means for supporters to channel their emotions following the bitter defeat against Spain. Simultaneously, vocational training programs could be instituted for aspiring football players who may not make it to the Champions League or European leagues, empowering them with alternative skills.
