“Everything finishes at some time, and that was the case today,” said trainer Silvia Neid, who has been involved in all previous seven European Championship victories as player and trainer.

“If I had seen our match from the outside, I would have said – one can win against them, they are not frightening,” she said, adding that her team had to get themselves mentally ready for the rest of the tournament.

The Germans made it through to the quarter-finals, but not as unbeaten winner of their group. They will next face Italy, considered a difficult but not unbeatable opponents. “The Italians are difficult to play, they are some minimalists,” said Neid.

As they enter the knock-out round, it is now crucial for the team not to lose another match.

To do that they will have to pull themselves together. After their 0-1 defeat to Norway, Neid admitted there were problems throughout the team. And the fact that they are a young bunch is no excuse, she said.

“They are very, very young. And young players are more unpredictable in their abilities. I think it really has something to do with age and experience. They have to learn that one has to simply grit ones teeth even in a match when things don’t go perfectly from the start.

“But it is positive that they did try during the second half against Norway. And at the end of the day we are happy to have our four points and to be in the quarter-final.”

The Local/DPA/hc