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Luis Enrique wished to provide Spain supporters a “present” in Qatar 2022 – however in the long run his aspect had been despatched house with accusations of being “boring” ringing of their ears.
Regardless of dominating possession of their second-round match in opposition to Morocco on Tuesday, Spain had been knocked out of the World Cup on penalties because the African aspect booked a historic quarter-final in opposition to Portugal.
It’s now 10 years since Spain received their final main trophy, after they received back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup in 4 years, they usually haven’t gone previous 16 since successful the 2010 World Cup.
Spanish soccer knowledgeable Guillem Balague mentioned Spain had been “miles away” from competing with the highest nations, however is it the top of supervisor Luis Enrique and his “passing experiments”?
“I might select these penalties once more”
The statistics are exceptional.
Spain had 77% of possession and made 1,019 passes – 926 had been appropriate – in comparison with Morocco’s 304.
Nonetheless, they completed the sport with simply six pictures and one shot heading in the right direction, as their affected person passing model was repeatedly brilliantly denied by a well-organised Morocco.
The sample of the sport was nearly inevitable for a Spanish workforce that not often performs a central striker – with solely Alvaro Morata as a focus – and who had made 1,058 passes of their defeat by Japan within the group stage.
Their one shot heading in the right direction is the bottom they’ve managed in a World Cup since these information had been accessible (1966), whereas they turn into the primary nation to lose 4 World Cup penalties and solely the second aspect to not rating in a single.
These penalty woes are much more wretched when you think about that Luis Enrique mentioned his workforce had taken 1,000 penalties in coaching.
“I selected the takers, I believed they had been the very best on the pitch,” Enrique mentioned.
“[If I could change something] I might take [Morocco keeper Yassine] Bounou left and changed one other goalkeeper. [Penalties] is just not a lottery for me. It’s important to management your self.
“What we did was dominate the sport however we missed the aim, that is the fact, that is the reality.”
“If it was as much as me, I might keep my entire life”
Former Spain midfielder Luis Enrique, 52, is out of contract this summer time after being appointed supervisor in 2018.
He left briefly in 2019 as his late daughter had been identified with bone most cancers, earlier than returning and guiding Spain to the Euro 2020 semi-finals, the place they misplaced to Italy on penalties.
He mentioned: “Subsequent week we’ll speak and focus on about my future, now is just not the proper time – I’m in cost.
“If it was as much as me, I might keep for the remainder of my life, however that is not the case. I’ve to calmly assume what’s greatest for me and for the nationwide workforce. All conditions will have an effect.”
Spain had been praised for his or her model and established themselves because the world’s main nation below Luis Aragones and Vicente del Bosque of their period of dominance between 2008 and 2012.
And Luis Enrique has defiantly caught to the identical possession-based method all through his time with the nationwide workforce, regardless of continuously developing quick on the large tournaments.
Ballague, mentioned: “Spain simply have not been adequate. Morocco had a greater projection of the sport plan than we did. We had a sport plan however could not affect the sport and we did not change or search for choices, as a result of we do not have them.
“Within the nation there weren’t many expectations. Now the failure is being celebrated right here in Spain – as a result of there might be 100,000 Moroccans celebrating in Spain.
“Now that leaves us to debate what subsequent. Luis Enrique is out of contract this summer time and can we agree with Enrique who, cussed as he’s, will follow his thought, or can we search for one thing new?”
The Spain boss has defended his technique all through the event, saying “soccer is a present and never for boring individuals”.
However, having misplaced to Japan and Morocco now in Qatar, did he get his angle improper?
“Whenever you see the very best of Spain, it is when the opposite workforce needs the ball and you’ll find area,” Ballague mentioned. “Groups that may win the World Cup proper now, France, England, Brazil, they’ve much more than we’ve got.
“We’ve not shot from outdoors the field, we have not crossed, we’re not bodily, not very quick. We do not play lengthy as a result of we do not have anybody who can maintain the ball, we’re not superb at set-pieces. It’s essential to have extra.”
“Horrible” and “Catastrophic” – how Spain reacted
Spanish media didn’t spare the nationwide workforce, calling Spain’s loss to Morocco on penalties “horrible” and “catastrophic”.
Spanish newspapers resembling El Pais and La Vanguardia instantly printed headlines resembling “For Spain possession was not sufficient” and “Spain is not going to proceed”.
Spain’s “large fiasco” ended with “a harmful group of penalties”, El Mundo added in a separate report, earlier than concluding that Spain “has an excellent workforce, but it surely, with out success, is just not value a lot”.
“Please Luis, why are you boring us?” – what you mentioned
Dan: Does Spain understand that this isn’t the World Cup? They must run at gamers and take some dangers to create area and create possibilities. It’s so boring!
Andy: Simply began the match in Spain 5 minutes in the past and nearly fell asleep already. Is it me or are they so boring to take a look at?
grey: The rain in Spain falls primarily on… the coaching pitch the place they make 1000’s of passes however typically keep away from placing the ball within the web.
Harry: Did not Luis Enrique say that soccer is a present and a spectacle? “We play for them – so why bore them?” Please inform Luis, why are you boring us?
Andy: I simply fell asleep for half-hour and once I awakened Spain was doing precisely the identical factor as earlier than. I feel I will return to sleep.
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