Spain may not be the best version in itself and it is certainly not the version, at least, which beat Italy 4–0 in the final of Euro 2012. But it still plays in a very Spanish style, with hard passages and possession. We have noted responses from Spanish players after their Euro 2020 loss to Italy.
Spanish players react to Euro loss
Sergio Busquets
Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets has commented on the loss to Italy in the Euro-2020 semi-final (1-1, 2-4 on penalties). “It’s a shame, we wanted to go all the way at this tournament, but that’s football. The team played great, we were better almost all the way through the game. I am proud of my partners,” Busquets said to Marca.
“Everyone thought Italy was the favorite, but we showed that we were stronger. We have a lot of young players, they were able to gain confidence. Our team will be back. The game went the way we wanted, we disposed of the ball, returned it as quickly as possible… But that’s football, we just have to congratulate our opponent.”
Sergio Ramos
Defender Sergio Ramos has shared his emotions after Spain’s loss to Italy at the Euro 2020 semi-final stage. “Sad and unfair. It wasn’t supposed to be like that but you made the whole country tremble, you gave it a lot of encouragement,” tweeted Ramos. “Proud of our national team.”
Triste e injusto. No ha podido ser, pero habéis hecho vibrar y emocionarse a todo un país. Orgulloso de nuestra Selección. #VamosEspaña
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) July 6, 2021
Gerard Pique
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has lamented the format of the penalty shootout after Spain’s 1-1 defeat to Italy (on penalties, 2-4) in the Euro 2020 semi-final. “It’s not just a coincidence that all four series so far at Euro 2020 and America’s Cup have been won by the teams that kicked first,” tweeted Pique.
No es casualidad que las cuatro tandas que ha habido tanto en la @EURO2020 como en la @CopaAmerica haya ganado el equipo que primero tira. Las estadísticas dicen que el primero tiene más opciones y en un torneo así no me parece justo que un sorteo haga que empieces con desventaja
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) July 6, 2021
“The statistics say that the team that kicks first has more options. And in a tournament like this, it doesn’t seem fair to me that the lot puts the other team at a disadvantage. I think the best format for a penalty shootout is ABBAABBAAB. In that case, the teams, if no one makes a mistake, take turns coming forward. Psychologically, it changes a lot when you’re in front or behind.”
