Losing an highly competitive, end to end football match hurts. Losing it in the final minute of extra time hurts more. That is the pain every German player and fan had to experience after Mikel Merino scored a last minute winner for Spain to move on to the semifinals of the 2024 European Championship.
For a player such as Toni Kroos, who had made winning such a regular habit at Real Madrid for so many years, the pain has been difficult to quantify. But, speaking to the podcast “Einfach Mal Luppen”, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, the now former German international Kroos gave it his best shot: “I think the last time I felt that was in 2012 after [Bayern Munich] lost the Champions League final.”
Who could forget that? The burning disappointment of losing on penalties to a below par Chelsea FC team on home turf, the Allianz Arena, was utterly nightmarish for Bayern. However, the team managed to dispel that nightmare in the most extraordinary manner possible, fighting their way to the club’s first ever treble. Who knows, perhaps Germany can show similar resilience and bounce back from this disappointment to extraordinary success in the 2026 World Cup?
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich precarious plans and transfer rumors? What about some thoughts on if Harry Kane’s form for England should give Bayern fans a reason for concern? Well, we have you covered with our Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show, which is available on Spotify or below: