Euro 2020: It hurts like hell that I had the chance but missed, says Thomas Mueller after Germany exit

Germany forward Thomas Mueller poured his heart out in an emotional message on social media after missing a chance to equalise for his team in the 0-2 defeat against England in their Euro 2020 round of 16 clash at the Wembley Stadium in London on Tuesday.

England took the lead through Raheem Sterling in the 75th minute after which Germany had the golden chance to equalise when Thomas Mueller got the ball near the opposition box but shot it wide of the goalpost despite only having goalkeeper Thomas Pickford to beat.

England doubled their lead just minutes later as captain Harry Kane headed a fine cross from Jack Grealish into the back of the net in the 86th minute to seal the deal for the Three Lions. It was England’s first win over Germany in a Euro knockout clash since 1966.

Mueller later took full responsibility for the defeat and expressed his disappointment in a heartfelt post on Instagram.

“That was it, that one moment that sticks in your mind and keeps you awake at night. The kind of moment you work for, train for, live for. The moment where it falls on you to get your team back on level terms in a tight knockout game and send an entire football nation into ecstasy.

“To have this opportunity and then waste it hurts like hell. It hurts to think about the whole team, my teammates and our coach, who all put their trust in me to be there and deliver at exactly that moment.

“But most of all, it hurts because of all the Germany fans out there who stood by us and supported us throughout this tournament, despite the difficult circumstances,” Mueller, who was looking to score his first Euro goal, wrote on Instagram.

This was also the final game for Germany manager Joachim Loew, who had said before the Euro 2020 that he would step down despite his contract expiring in 2022. Loew, who led Germany to World Cup glory in 2014, has overseen a group stage exit at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and a Round of 16 exit at the ongoing Euro Cup.

His successor and former assistant Hansi Flick has his work cut out as he looks to restore Germany’s football pride in time for next year’s Qatar World Cup.