Rudi Voller: "The anger and disappointment is huge. We were so close to reaching the last 16 of the World Cup. But when you're leading 1-0 and you concede a goal, everything collapses in a moment.

"We didn't do enough in attack and our few chances on the break were wasted. Carsten Jancker came close, he did everything right, but he was unfortunate. I believe a second goal would have decided the match in our favour.

"On the right, Torsten Frings improved in the second half and looked dangerous on a couple of occasions, but on the left we showed very little.

"It was always a tight match, always on the edge, and in the end they threw on their big lad and things got too hectic for us. One or two of our players might have been tired, but that's no excuse."

Oliver Kahn: "We should have shown more commitment to make it 2-0, but instead we allowed them to take the game to us. As our counter-attacks lacked precision, the pressure increased on us and you could say we were asking for the equaliser."

Carsten Ramelow: "The Irish brought on three fresh players late in the game and that gave them extra help. We could have gone to 2-0 instead of letting them back in with an equaliser.

"Leading by 1-0 is always a dangerous score. If we could have made it 2-0 we could have relaxed a bit. We were under pressure and conceded the goal with almost the last kick of the match. It is not supposed to happen in the last minute. It should have been prevented . . . it can happen, but it is not supposed to."

Marko Rehmer: "It's sad, but it's life."

Torsten Frings: "The atmosphere in the team is down; the draw is bitter. Everyone in the team wanted to win. We were often under pressure during the match."

Rudi Voller: "The team is broken. The players have given their best and we had many chances, but it seemed that 1-0 is not enough.

"The team gave everything and they're exhausted, but we have nothing to fear against Cameroon. We'll get three points.

"If we would have won today, we most probably would have started to celebrate, so maybe it is good they kept us awake. We have a six-day break now and then we will get those three points."

Franz Beckenbauer: "Germany did not do what they should have in the second half. We played too much in defence and built a wall some 30 metres in front of our own goal.

"The 1-1 is not undeserved. Klose was injured, and therefore he was invisible in the second half.

"We are missing a complete leader who gives the orders on the pitch. Our captain, Oliver Kahn, is a world-class keeper, but he is too far behind the play to help. Dietmar Hamann and Michael Ballack are not loud enough."

And more Irish joy

Ian Harte: "This is brilliant. We are a young and inexperienced side playing on the big stage and enjoying it. Anything could happen. First half it was a sloppy goal to give away. I let the runner go and he headed it by Shay. That was quite disappointing but into the second half we dominated the game again."

Steven Reid: "They sat back a little and we came forward. In the end we got the goal and I thought we could have got a winner if it had gone our way. It was a big day for all of us and especially for Stan and it was my pleasure and honour being the youngest in the squad to present the watch to him. Just found out this afternoon I was supposed to do it. I just said it was an honour to give him this gift from all the players. It was a watch, quite an expensive one too."

Kevin Kilbane: "Felt like we never would score but we kept going at them and going at them. We just couldn't find the back of the net. What a relief at the end. Best feeling ever. Unbelievable, crowd right behind us and almost sucked the ball into that net."

Shay Given: "Credit to the lads. We dug deep."