Euro 2020: Germany No 1 Manuel Neuer is ‘damn sad’ Joachim Low’s tenure ends with last-16 exit

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has expressed his sadness at Joachim Low‘s tenure as manager coming to an end with a Euro 2020 last-16 exit at the hands of England.

The Three Lions beat rivals Germany at a tournament for the first time in 55 years on Tuesday night at Wembley.

The 2-0 defeat brought the curtain down on Low’s time as Germany manager after it was announced prior to the tournament that it would be his last at the helm.

And Neuer, who made his senior international debut in 2009, expressed his disappointment at how his boss’s spell in charge has ended and also insisted German players ‘owe him a lot’. 

‘After the final whistle, I looked towards the coaching bench and of course it’s a sad feeling when I saw Jogi,’ he told ARD.

‘He’s a great guy and a great person and has achieved so much with us as a trainer. It’s damn sad that the era is ending like this.

‘Former players owe him a lot and he shaped that era. That hurts.’

Low took Germany to the final of Euro 2008 but his biggest achievement was guiding them to World Cup glory in 2014.

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz concurred with team-mate Neuer, adding: ‘It is very hard for us.

‘I think for Germany he is the biggest manager of all time, the whole country is proud of him, the players are proud of him.

‘The career for him is unbelievable and we are disappointed not to give him the best end but of course he is a great manager and a great person to all of us.’ 

England sealed a memorable victory over Germany thanks to second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, setting up a quarter-final showdown with Ukraine in Rome on Saturday night.