Joachim Loew said his team "were superior" against Italy after his team won 6-5 on penalties in their Euro 2016 quarter-final on Saturday (2nd July), a shootout which Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer described as "a war for my nerves".

SOUNDBITE: (German) Manuel Neuer, Germany goalkeeper (Q: Can you describe what it was like for you from an emotional point of view?)

"Well it wasn't too easy. It was a war for my nerves, I had to concentrate on my work as a goalkeeper, but every time we shot I hoped the ball would enter the net and then it was simply I could not be influenced by that. Well it was not that easy, but nevertheless I have tried to concentrate on my work and I have always tried to read the opponent. I don't know if I have remembered that correctly but all who scored, scored in the middle of the goal and that speaks for itself.

SOUNDBITE: (German) Joachim Loew, Germany head coach (Q: Have you ever seen so much drama, how many times did you think yes it's over?)

"Well of course a dramatic game 'til the very last shot. I have seen such situations, 2006 against Argentina. It was a game on a very high tactical level, from both sides. I think we were superior on the pitch and the Italians, whose strengths are in the centre, we did that very well not to let them. The penalty was unfortunate, I could not imagine that the Italians would score throughout the game."