It's been more than 25 years, and my national team is my most important loyalty, of course. Compared to Germany, club failings mean almost nothing (though they hurt at the time - a lot - which simply speaks to my attachment to Germany).

I felt as though I would faint. And then I recovered. I dealt with it by accepting it was over immediately. And now it's all right. Stats helped with that. I think the player were less distraught than they might have been.

It's an achievement: to make 4 semifinals. And it is unfortunate only one of them was a win. And no final win either :(