Spain coach Luis Enrique took full responsibility for his team’s shocking World Cup exit at the hands of Morocco on Tuesday night in Qatar‘s Education City Stadium.
Despite dominating possession and pinning Morocco back for long portions of 120-plus minutes of regulation and extra time, the game ended 0-0 and went to penalties where Spain had two attempts saved by Yassine Bounou and one come off the post before Achraf Hakimi netted the winning spot kick for the African side.
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“The responsibility is mine,” Luis Enrique said after the match. “I chose the first three penalty takers, who were those I thought were the best specialists on the pitch. We didn’t even get to the fourth. Bounou is a spectacular goalkeeper in this aspect, he has a high percentage in going the right way. He was great.”
It was the second time in as many World Cups that Spain were eliminated in a shootout — losing to hosts Russia from the spot in 2018 — and the former Barcelona manager was left to lament his team’s inability to make their massive edge in possession count.
“Football is a marvelous, passionate sport, but a team can win without attacking,” Luis Enrique said. “Morocco attacked once or twice and were dangerous, but we dominated the game completely, and tried to create.
“We would have liked to create more. It was hard for us. We had 11 shots I think, but few on goal. In the final move of the game Pablo Sarabia hit the post. The penalty shootout was hard for us. But I’m proud of my players.”
