Resting against the bench, Luis Enrique's gaze turned watery with the first penalty missed by Pablo Sarabia.
Throws from 11 meters, as in the Eurocup, have stood in the way of winning a title.
His four-year cycle, if he does not renew, will have resulted in a Euro Cup semifinal, a runner-up in the League of Nations and this elimination in the round of 16 of a World Cup.
“I can't say anything about my future, because I don't know.
It is not the time now.
It's not important.
He has no interest.
My contract is ending, but I am very comfortable in the national team and in the federation.
Because of what the president [Luis Rubiales] means and the love of Molina [sports director], if it were up to me I would continue all my life.
But is not the case.
I have to calmly think about what is best not only for Luis Enrique, but for the national team.
When I talk to the interested people, everything will influence, of course, all the situations that have arisen", explained Luis Enrique in the press room.
Before, in the TVE microphones, he had said: “I have more exits than the metro.
I want to get home and be with my dogs.
I suppose that from next week we will speak with the federation”.
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Video summary of Morocco - Spain
Focused on penalty kicks, Luis Enrique revealed how he had chosen the shooters: “I was the one who chose the three shooters.
He considered them to be the best in the field.
If they started over, I'd pick the top three pitchers.
The rest, I have left to the players to choose freely from those three.
Look at the eye I have.
What I would do is remove Bono and put another goalkeeper, “said the coach from Gijón.
Yassine Bounou, 'Bono', saves a penalty against Spain during the shootout.
Petr David Josek (AP)
The Moroccan players celebrate the victory against Spain on penalties and the pass to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Martin Meissner (AP)
The players of the Spanish team lament after the failure of Sergio Busquets.
Bernadet Szabo (Reuters)
Spanish fans lament after the team's defeat on penalties against Morocco. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Bono saves the penalty taken by Sergio Busquets. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
The Moroccan footballers celebrate their passage to the quarterfinals against the Spanish team after winning the penalty shootout.
Bernadet Szabo (Reuters)
Achraf Hakimi scores the decisive penalty with a Panenka shot to beat Unai Simón.
MATTHEW CHILDS (REUTERS)
Unai Simón, stopping a Moroccan shot in the first part of extra time. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
The Moroccan attacking midfielder Selim Amallah, getting rid of the marking that Laporte.Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Bono clears a ball from the Moroccan area after a cross from Spain.
FABRIZIO BENSCH (REUTERS)
Yahya Attiat-Allah, at a time during the match against Spain.
LEE SMITH (REUTERS)
Nayef Aguerd tries to clear a ball in the Moroccan box against Dani Olmo and Álvaro Morata.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP)
Marcos Llorente and Romain Ghanem Saiss fight for a divided ball.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP)
Ferrán Torres controls a ball with his chest in the match against Morocco.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP)
Bono makes a save against Álvaro Morata.
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP)
The match referee, Fernando Rapallini, shows Laporte the yellow card. Petr David Josek (AP)
Forward Ferran Torres, after a chance to score with Moroccan defender Sofyan Amrabat. MATTHEW CHILDS (REUTERS)
Ferrán Torres laments after an occasion. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Dani Olmo faces Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Luis Enrique, in the technical area, watches the match between Spain and Morocco.
GLYN KIRK (AFP)
Gavi gives a pass in the first part of the match between Morocco and Spain.Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Unai Simón blocks an aerial ball after a Moroccan cross. KARIM JAAFAR (AFP)
Rodri (left), Sergio Busquets (centre) and Youssef En-Nesyri (right) try to head an aerial ball during the round of 16 match between Spain and Morocco.
Petr David Josek (AP)
Moroccan fans in the stands of the Education City stadium, in Al-Rayyan, Doha.
Martin Meissner (AP)
Bono, Sofyan Amrabat and Romain Saiss watch the ball hit the crossbar by Gavi, in a move later annulled for offside.
FABRIZIO BENSCH (REUTERS)
Luis Enrique gives instructions to his players in the first part of the match between Morocco and Spain.
MATTHEW CHILDS (REUTERS)
Gavi, in a play of the game with the Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahidel, during the match between Morocco and Spain. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Sofiane Boufal, on the right, fights for a ball with Gavi.
Martin Meissner (AP)
A fan of the Spanish national team in the stands of the Education City stadium, in Al-Rayyan, Doha.
Jaime Villanueva Sanchez
Rodrigo disputes an aerial ball in the match against Morocco. Jaime Villanueva Sánchez
Marco Asensio puts pressure on the Moroccan goalkeeper, Bono.
FABRIZIO BENSCH (REUTERS)
The starting team of Spain poses for the official photo before the match against Morocco in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
LEE SMITH (REUTERS)
Moroccan flag extended on the pitch of the Education City stadium before the match against Spain in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
DPA via Europa Press (DPA via Europa Press)
The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales (left), greets the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, before the match between Spain and Morocco.
KARIM JAAFAR (AFP)
Spain, as in Russia, fell again in the round of 16 of a World Cup, not only with penalties as a common point.
La Roja fell again with more than 1,000 passes and with the feeling of having generated very little for the 77% possession it recorded.
“We have created enough opportunities to win, we have made 11 shots, although it could be that we could have generated something more.
This is sport.
The players have listened to all the indications I have given them.
They have followed them at 99.9%, because they wanted to score a goal and I, to look for situations.
It's over.
You have to analyze the game calmly.
I don't have a single reproach for this group of players.
It has been a wonderful concentration”, assured the coach.
Luis Enrique revealed that he never visits the players' locker room at the end of the matches.
“I have encouraged them, I have thanked them for their efforts, their ability to manage the game.
We created the best chance in minute 120 that he hit the post.
I have told them to go ahead;
nothing happens, life goes on... it's an experience that will stay with them forever and hopefully it can be of use to them in the future, ”he revealed.
The coach wanted to have a special mention for Sarabia, who he awarded the final minutes of extra time to be one of the penalty takers.
“I do have some resentment on a personal level: that there are players who have not played in the World Cup and, above all, with Pablo Sarabia, with whom I have been very unfair.
I have taken him out to take a penalty and he has generated two chances.
I have been wrong with Sarabia in the whole World Cup”, admitted Luis Enrique.
The parade of players through the mixed zone seemed cut by the same pattern.
Those who did not have to attend to the press walked with their heads held high and their eyes lost.
“The important thing is the selection and not me.
It is a difficult night and one that will serve as an experience for the future with a very good and young group”, said the captain, Sergio Busquets.
The normal thing is that he ends his international career, something he had in mind if the Euro Cup had been played in 2020. As it was played in 2021, he decided to continue until this World Cup.
If his goodbye is confirmed, there will be no representative of the 2010 world champions.
“We are screwed and sad.
Again by penalties, it's a bitch ”, lamented Marcos Llorente.
"I hope the coach continues.
And we are going to try to convince Busquets and the rest of the veterans”, assured Ferran Torres with the innocence of someone who has not yet endured the passage of time.
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