The Dutch women’s football team have failed to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris after losing 0-2 to Germany in the play offs for third place in the Nation’s League.

“On the one hand we are disappointed but on the other we are realistic,” said coach Andries Jonker after the game. “Germany, in this form, are too big for us.”

Captain Sherida Spitse backed up Jonker, saying “Germany was simply better, and we have to accept that.”

Spitse was part of the team which won the European Championships in 2017 and made it to the World Cup final two years later. “It would have been nice to add the Olympics to my list,” she said.

Germany and Spain will join France as Olympic hosts, as Europe’s representatives in the 12 nation European competition.