The captain of the Spanish team lamented “the lack of luck in the last passes and shots” that condemned Spain to play the pass to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in a disastrous penalty shootout against Morocco
Players like Ferran Torres, Unai Simón, Marcos Llorente and Rodri also expressed the frustration of the ‘Red’ dressing room after the unexpected elimination in the round of 16
It was a very painful defeat. For the ‘what’ and for the ‘how’. The Spanish selection was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Qatar World Cup 2022 after a disastrous penalty shootout against Morocco and the ‘Red’ footballers They couldn’t hide their frustration in the mixed zone. The first to do so was captain Sergio Busquets, who lamented the lack of “the bit of luck in the last passes and shots” necessary to qualify for the round of 16 during regulation time or, failing that, in extra time. “It’s a very cruel way to lose”declared the Barça midfielder.
Busquets, one of the footballers who did not hit from eleven meters, acknowledged that “we wanted to continue& rdquor; in the competition and that they tried to make merits to avoid penalties. “They have worn themselves out with the passing of the minutes and we had a chance at the end, that of Pablo Sarabia, but it couldn’t be. He has come out cross & rdquor ;, he valued. The captain did not ‘get wet’ about his future in the National Team, because “this is not important right now & rdquor;. “It’s been a tough night, but we’re in good shape. The group is very young and this is going to be very useful for the future,” he concluded, somewhat more optimistic.
Ferran Torres, for his part, showed himself “hurt by defeat” because, according to his point of view, Spain “deserved” the pass to the quarterfinals. For this reason, in fact, the one from Foios claimed to be “proud of the team”, which was “very constant” in his way of understanding the game. “Football owes us one,” he said before criticizing the arbitration performance of Argentine Fernando Rapallini: “In some moments we have played against twelve, but we cannot depend on things that we do not control. He has not accompanied us, but we have to continue”. The Barça attacker also explained that he is going to “try to convince the veterans to continue, since they help us a lot”, and that “I don’t know what will happen to Luis Enrique, but we are going to the death with him and we will support him whatever he decides Let him decide.” “If it were up to me, I would tie Luis Enrique for life,” he asserted.
“Football does not understand justice”
Rodri, who once again performed very well as a centre-back, said that “Football does not understand justice”, but “that the ball enters”. “We haven’t scored a single penalty. It’s been a difficult game, a very competitive match that has been decided on penalties. We haven’t been successful, we haven’t scored a single one. I don’t have much more to say. We go home and it’s frustrating. I wish someone up there would have helped us. Soccer has these things and it’s cruel, but the team has given it,” he insisted after thanking the fans for their support throughout the World Cup.
Marcos Llorente stressed that “anything can happen on penalties and Morocco has been better”. The Atlético de Madrid footballer did not like the state of the Education City pitch at all, which “It has not helped us to make quick circulations and good controls”. “It has cost us. We have had good chances, but we have not taken advantage of them,” he declared. Unai Simón, who could not help La Roja in the fateful penalty shootout, was “honest” and accepted that “they have been better in penalties”. “The matches are very even and there is a high level of defense in general, but especially from teams like Morocco. We did not expect to be eliminated, but it is reality even if it annoys us. It’s time to assimilate it and go home, “she finished.