JAKARTA - Germany national team midfielder Toni Kroos admitted that Spain showed his team how to play the ball with and without the ball after they were crushed 0-6 in the UEFA Nations League match on Wednesday WIB.
Luis Enrique's Spain squad scored three goals in each half and were dominant from start to finish, recording 70 percent possession and shooting 23 shots compared to Germany who only threatened twice.
The defeat was Germany's worst in a competitive match. They haven't conceded six goals in a single game since 1958 against France.
The result dealt a crushing blow to Germany, who are used to winning by score in a match. Kroos acknowledged that Spain was superior in every way and gave Germany an important lesson.
"It hurts. While defending, we didn't get access at all. Spain showed us how to defend, how to play with and without the ball," Kroos told German public broadcaster ARD as quoted by Antara, Wednesday.
Germany striker Serge Gnabry also agrees with the Real Madrid midfielder's statement.
"Nothing (ways) worked for us today, we just couldn't get access. Spain deserved to win even at this level. We tried to press each other. Spain did well, we did badly. Now maybe we know where we are. we stand. It makes us think. We still have a little time and should make the most of it. "
The defeat was Germany's first in 12 matches, with their last defeat in September 2019 when they were defeated by the Netherlands 2-4.
Germany have also shown that their defense must be improved after keeping only one clean sheet in their last eight matches - conceding three goals against Turkey and Switzerland.
This result saw Germany finish second in their UEFA Nations League group behind Spain, who picked up a total of 11 points in the group stage of the competition.
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