‘Sometimes it’s cruel’: Spain depart World Cup cursing shootout

07-Dec-2022 16:19:37 | The Guardian

Luis Enrique’s side misfired again from the penalty spot, failing to disguise that they have won just twice in 90 minutes in the past two tournaments

Luis Enrique asked for a thousand penalties; he got a thousand passes. Spain exited the World Cup early, and in style. There is always something sudden about how it ends, even if it’s been coming, even as you know it could happen.

“All that’s left now is nothing,” Unai Simon said when it was all over. “Just [the need] to assimilate the fact that we’re out, that none of this has brought any reward.” It was late, and it was done. The following morning at 9.28 Spain’s bus pulled out of Qatar University, heading to the airport.