Post by account_disabled on Jan 10, 2024 4:47:03 GMT -5
Andrés Iniesta announced this Sunday that with Spain's elimination from the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he says goodbye to the national team and "a wonderful stage ends."
"It is a reality that today is my last game with the national team. On an individual level, a wonderful stage is coming to an end. Sometimes the endings are not as one dreams, but the circumstances mark it that way," said Iniesta in the mixed zone of the Luzhniki stadium. , where Spain was eliminated in the round of 16 of the World Cup, after losing in the penalty shootout against Russia.
"It leaves a bad and hard taste in me. Like everyone Binance App Users Data else. Nothing changes, it is a difficult moment that we have experienced on other occasions. We have not been able to make the leap," added the man who, with his goal in the final of 2010, gave the Spanish team the only world title in its history.
The Spanish midfielder, who was a substitute against Russia, said that he did not feel singled out by that circumstance. "The coach is the one who makes the decisions, regardless of whether one shares them or not. In the end, the coach looks at what is best for the team and has understood it that way. It is a shame that we were not able to pass the qualifying round. Penalties are always very cruel," said Iniesta, who acknowledged that he is going through a "difficult moment," but that "the criticism or non-criticism" he has suffered during the tournament "is the least of it."
"Today we are screwed because we have not been able to take another step. We have not risen to the occasion, even though we have tried everything in today's game. And on an individual level it has not been the farewell dreamed of by one, but football and life have those things," he added.
Regarding who should take the blame, the midfielder said that the "main culprits are always the players and then each one has to assume their responsibility."
And, when asked if the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui had an influence, two days before La Roja's debut in the World Cup in Russia, he pointed out: "It would be advantageous if that decision was fundamental for us to be out today. Everything has its importance, but In the end, we were the ones who had the say and the ball."
Iniesta, in any case, was convinced that "there is a replacement", but said that "the important thing is to find the path to success again." "This is very complicated, more than it seems, but the team will continue moving forward because it has high-level players and that is what it should try."
"It is a reality that today is my last game with the national team. On an individual level, a wonderful stage is coming to an end. Sometimes the endings are not as one dreams, but the circumstances mark it that way," said Iniesta in the mixed zone of the Luzhniki stadium. , where Spain was eliminated in the round of 16 of the World Cup, after losing in the penalty shootout against Russia.
"It leaves a bad and hard taste in me. Like everyone Binance App Users Data else. Nothing changes, it is a difficult moment that we have experienced on other occasions. We have not been able to make the leap," added the man who, with his goal in the final of 2010, gave the Spanish team the only world title in its history.
The Spanish midfielder, who was a substitute against Russia, said that he did not feel singled out by that circumstance. "The coach is the one who makes the decisions, regardless of whether one shares them or not. In the end, the coach looks at what is best for the team and has understood it that way. It is a shame that we were not able to pass the qualifying round. Penalties are always very cruel," said Iniesta, who acknowledged that he is going through a "difficult moment," but that "the criticism or non-criticism" he has suffered during the tournament "is the least of it."
"Today we are screwed because we have not been able to take another step. We have not risen to the occasion, even though we have tried everything in today's game. And on an individual level it has not been the farewell dreamed of by one, but football and life have those things," he added.
Regarding who should take the blame, the midfielder said that the "main culprits are always the players and then each one has to assume their responsibility."
And, when asked if the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui had an influence, two days before La Roja's debut in the World Cup in Russia, he pointed out: "It would be advantageous if that decision was fundamental for us to be out today. Everything has its importance, but In the end, we were the ones who had the say and the ball."
Iniesta, in any case, was convinced that "there is a replacement", but said that "the important thing is to find the path to success again." "This is very complicated, more than it seems, but the team will continue moving forward because it has high-level players and that is what it should try."