Mario Gomez has admitted that Thursday's devastating Euro 2012 semi-final exit at the hands of Italy felt like another punch in the mouth for Germany's Bayern Munich contingent.
The Bavarians could have completed a treble last season but they were first beaten by Borussia Dortmund in what was effectively a Bundesliga title decider and were then humiliated by the same opponents in the final of the DFB-Pokal.
The most bitter blow, though, was arguably their penalty-shoot defeat to Chelsea in the final of the Champions League at their Allianz Arena home.
Gomez and his colleagues were desperately hoping that they would end the campaign on a high by lifting the European Championship trophy with Die Mannschaft, but their dream was dashed by the Azzurri in Warsaw.
"We've been punched in the face four times," lamented the striker to reporters.
Gomez's club-mate Holger Badstuber, meanwhile, was annoyed that the issue was even brought up by the press after the game in the Polish capital.
"Why is it always about the Bayern players? We're a team. We've all lost together. It is a bitter moment," the defender is quoted as saying by the German Press Agency.
As for Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, he admitted that he just wants to get away from the game for a while.
"I don't want to deal with football now," the 26-year-old shot-stopper sighed. "I just want to rest."
Germany had racked up a record breaking 15 successive victories in competitive internationals before losing to Italy.
It has been a roller-coaster ride for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic left) since he led the Barisan Nasional to victory at the May 5 general election but without achieving his own benchmark: restoring its two-thirds control of Parliament. …