In Germany’s Achterland, the six(ish) appeal of Rodri and Kanté proves pivotal

Neither Rodri nor Kanté wear six, instead 16 and 13. Yet in their own distinct ways, they are the sechser-ish linchpins for the first two semi-finalists

Ngolo Kante has been France's most vital player at the Euros

Perhaps German newspaper editors hoped they’d be able to write it into existence. ‘Der Blick nach vorn’ went the front page of Monday morning’s Rheinische Post — ‘looking ahead’.

Yet the presence of many variations of a tearful, crestfallen Julian Nagelsmann across almost the covers of the dailies here told you Germans were still looking back. Fully 72 hours after their exit, the hosts’ remained stung, if no longer stunned. Bild was the only outlet not to feature Nagelsmann, instead still raging over the handball decision that hadn’t gone Germany’s way.