Spain axe manager Luis Enrique over their shock World Cup exit
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BREAKING NEWS: Spain’s AX coach Luis Enrique on his shock World Cup exit, less than 24 hours after he landed back from Qatar, after his 1,000 penalty plan failed and the fans enraged by the style of play.
Luis Enrique has been sacked by Spain after the country sat out the World Cup with a surprise round of 16 loss to Morocco.
It follows a disappointing World Cup in which they finished second in their group after a shock loss to Japan, before falling after another shock against Morocco on Tuesday.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the news in a publication on its social networks this Thursday morning.
Spain fires coach Luis Enrique after being left out of the World Cup
Spain was eliminated in the round of 16 of the tournament on penalties against Morocco
His dismissal occurs less than 24 hours after his return to Spain after flying from Qatar
Against Morocco, Spain were unable to convert their goal-possession dominance in a 0-0 draw, before missing all three penalties in a penalty shootout loss.
A statement from the Spanish football federation said: ‘The RFEF would like to thank Luis Enrique and his entire coaching staff who have led the senior team in recent years.
The sports management of the RFEF has transferred to the president a report in which it is determined that a new project should be started for the Spanish Soccer Team, with the aim of continuing with the growth achieved in recent years thanks to the work carried out by Luis Enrique and his collaborators.
Both the president, Luis Rubiales, and the sports director, José Francisco Molina, have transmitted the decision to the coach.
And they added: ‘The RFEF energetically wishes Luis Enrique and his team the best of luck in their future professional projects. The coach earns the affection and admiration of his collaborators in the national team and of the entire Federation, which will always be his home.
It is the third time in a row that Spain has been left out of a major tournament on penalties.
Enrique took over after the 2018 World Cup but was unable to build on his knockout exit in Russia.
Enrique took over from former Spain teammate Fernando Hierro in 2018 after he was left out of that year’s World Cup in a loss on penalties to hosts Russia in the round of 16.
They showed progress at Euro 2020, where they reached the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Italy in a penalty shootout.
Ahead of Qatar, Enrique instructed his players to take 1,000 penalties each to help them avoid another harrowing outing after a shootout.
That didn’t help them though, as Carlos Soler, Pablo Sarabia and Sergio Busquets all failed to score from the spot.
Spain’s World Cup kicked off in style with a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica, but since then they have scored just two goals as they failed to beat Portugal, Japan and Morocco.
Fans have criticized Enrique’s style of play, while the Spanish press criticized Enrique’s team as ‘powerless’, having ‘possession for her own sake’ and lacking in ideas after their surprise World Cup elimination.