IT'S TIME FOR NEW GERMAN HERROES

Nagelsmann plots a course out of wilderness to World Cup glory

- KEITH WEBSTER

THERE is one thing football fans know about Germany: Sometimes they are down but rarely are they counted out.

As hosts of the Euros that culminate on Sunday night in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, their followers were hoping for a glorious finale that would have brought to an end what, by German football standards, is a banishment in the wilderness.

Starved of the kind of success to which they are accustomed, supporters of Die Mannschaft arrived in Stuttgart last Friday for what they knew was going to be the toughest test possible.

Spain presented themselves as the in-form entertainers of the tournament, passing, moving and scoring with a joyous abandon - a breath of fresh air compared to teams who have crammed 10 outfield players behind the ball and celebrated draws like trophy-winning performances.

Germany, by contrast, were up for a challenge and, despite going a goal down to a wonderful pass from Lamine Yamal and perfect finish from Dani Olmo, they came out fighting.