Germany rue missed chances, Switzerland proud

Germany midfielder Lewis Holtby said his side needed to be more clinical in front of goal after they conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at home with Switzerland in their UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off first leg. However, the FC Schalke 04 man added that Germany heads will not drop going into Tuesday's return, a match which proud Switzerland coach Pierluigi Tami is already looking forward to after his team's spirited display.

Lewis Holtby, Germany midfielder
We gave away a lead despite having an extra man with only ten minutes to go. Of course, we are not happy about this. It is a horror and must not happen. We should not have given them the chance to equalise. We should have converted our own chances because we had enough of them. We were not clinical in front of goal.

However, we are not all sitting there with our heads down. We have drawn 1-1 in the first leg against a strong Swiss team and now we will do everything to pick ourselves up and get a result over there. We knew they were strong, we had seen videos of them, and know about their results in recent years.

Sebastian Rudy, Germany midfielder
I was not nervous when I took the penalty. I felt we deserved the lead at that point and was happy when it went in. We dropped too deep after taking the lead and that is what allowed them to get back into the game. We were the better team. We had more and better chances, even though they had some opportunities themselves.

Rainer Adrion, Germany coach
We produced a spirited performance, shut our opponents down and took the lead. Conceding a goal was not good but we played well and I am convinced that we can score in Switzerland.

Pierluigi Tami, Switzerland coach
I am especially proud about the way my team scored the equaliser. We fought with great passion and reacted well to Germany upping the ante after the break. This performance was needed against a strong opponent. We are not the favourites for our home match as well because Germany have a very good squad.

We have to be very focused because we have achieved nothing yet. I am already looking forward to the return leg in Lucerne on Tuesday, when we will have to build on that performance. Losing Fabian Schär to suspension is a blow because our defence was solid and well organised, but there are alternatives available in either Philippe Koch or Berat Djimsiti.