Germany are coming to terms with the end of an era, after the football team’s first knockout defeat to England in 55 years brought the curtain down on Joachim Low’s 15-year reign as manager.
Low bowed out with a disappointing end to his spell in charge, and many of Germany’s newspapers focused on him on their front pages.
Under the headline “15 years as national coach — that was the Low era”, Der Tagesspiegel said: “Germany now only watches the European Championship — and that is not enough.
“Joachim Low’s era could not have ended more gloomy. The farewell as national coach in his 198th game was indeed a dignified one over a long season, but the demands on a German national football team are higher than being eliminated in the round of 16.”
Germany’s most popular newspaper, Bild, said Low looked “empty, frustrated and depressed”, but Hamburger Morgenpost chose to focus on his legacy.
“Huge respect!” its front page headline read. “Jogi Low’s era ends with 2-0 defeat. The world champion coach from Baden was incredibly successful and always a fair sportsman. The fact it’s over now is nevertheless a good thing.”
Below an image of Thomas Muller consoling an emotional Joshua Kimmich at the final whistle, the Suddeutsche Zeitung said that the poor form of Harry Kane going into the match was like the set-up to a cruel joke as England avenged defeats of the past.
“Kane, an internationally-recognised joker, had planned for exactly this punchline for a long time: three games doing nothing, and then a raid on the German FA,” the paper said.
There was also praise for England after their first win over Germany in a knockout match since 1966. The front page of Express said: “Dear Englishmen, you have brought yourselves a deserved victory against us. Good luck for the rest of the Euros.”
