Emanuele Giaccherini has spoken of an emotional night in the Italy camp following his team's quarterfinal elimination from Euro 2016 at the hands of Germany.
Italy were beaten 6-5 by the Mannschaft in a spectacular penalty shootout that saw a total of seven misses, with Jonas Hector eventually converting the winner.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the Bologna midfielder said: "There were tears."
It was a doubly emotional night as the Azzurri bid farewell to coach Antonio Conte -- visibly upset in his postmatch news conference -- who will now go on to take the helm at Chelsea.
"I saw, yes," Giaccherini said of his coach's tears. "But there were tears from many people and not just him.
"There is huge disappointment, but at the same time calm at knowing we've given our all to the end."
Giaccherini's teammate Stefano Stuaro also revealed after the game that he had played the quarterfinal with a knee injury.
"I sprained my knee in the first half, but I did what was necessary, because we couldn't think about tomorrow," Sturaro, who started in place of the injured Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Candreva and a suspended Thiago Motta, told Sky Sport Italia.
Despite the disappointment experienced by the team, he also added: "We have nothing to regret, as we leave with our heads held high."