German coach Loew said his team had been the better of the two.
Advertisement
Germany have not won the Euros since 1996 and Low – who is taking time to reflect on his future after the loss – was not a fan of the first tournament to include 24 teams after its extension from the previous mark of 16. After guiding France into the Euro Championship final, star striker Antoine Griezmann has brushed aside comparisons with Michel Platini, saying he is still far from the French football legend’s record of nine goals in a single tournament.
“The French media are sure of the win (for France.) We have lost a final already but this time we can make it. Probability counts for nothing and all the Portuguese bet on us”.
“Today we didn’t have the luck we needed”, said Loew.
Following the second of the night for France, there was no looking back for the hosts as they held on well to not allow Germany to score and eventually kept a clean sheet and book a date with Portugal in final at home soil.
Not only will France have the host nation crowd behind it at the Stade de France, but Griezmann has been on sparkling form with a tournament-leading six goals – double the tally of Ronaldo, who has toiled and grumbled his way through Portugal’s stodgy campaign. Reflecting on his opening goal from the penalty spot, Griezmann said he was determined to erase his Champions League misery when he missed his crucial penalty in the final loss against Real Madrid in May.
Germany coach Joachim Loew refused to commit himself to stay beyond the next World Cup campaign as he picked through the wreckage of the country’s Euro 2016 exit.
“I don’t say anything about referees’ decisions, you have to accept them”.
“I’m certain that the whole group will think of it as the game of their lives because Portugal have never won a title”.
“We have played well at these European Championship finals, but we’re out”.
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos also felt the result was not a fair reflection on the game.
“It’s bitter.we clearly dominated France, then we fell behind because of a silly mistake with the handball”.
“There have been lots of negative waves in this tournament and we have always got over them”. We were good in the one-on-one, it was unfortunate that we conceded the goal.
“We had our chances but didn’t score”.
Advertisement
On the other side of the footballing fence, winning manager Didier Deschamps said that the French deserved their win over “best team in the world” Germany.
