Euro 2020: Spain coach Luis Enrique never doubted penalty win

Euro 2020: Spain coach Luis Enrique says he had no doubt that his side would prevail in the penalty shootout against Switzerland.

Spain coach Luis Enrique rejoices his side's victory over Switzerland after their Euro 2020 quarterfinal.

Even though Spain had crashed out of its last World Cup campaign on penalties and missed its previous five spot-kicks, coach Luis Enrique was never in doubt about Saturday's shootout against Switzerland in the Euro 2020 quarterfinal.

"That was the most tranquil penalty shootout I've ever been through because we'd done all our homework, all our practice, and there was nothing left for the staff and me to do," he said after Spain squeezed through 3-1 in the shootout.

RELATED|

"We all had huge faith in (goalkeeper) Unai (Simon), and after that all we could do is watch it and accept the result," he added.

His team hardly made it easy, Sergio Busquets and Rodri both missing. But Simon saved from Switzerland's Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schar while Ruben Vargas hammered over the bar, leaving Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal to notch the the decisive penalty and book Spain's place in the final four.

"People say penalties are a lottery but it's not like that at all," Enrique said at his news conference. "Everything comes into play - the fitness, the ability to deal with pressure and the goalkeepers. It's impossible to coach them but when you win it feels very good indeed," he added.

 

Remo Freuler was sent off for Switzerland in the 77th minute but Spain failed to make its numerical advantage count and the score remained 1-1 after extra time. The Spaniards finished with 27 attempts on goal, including Gerard Moreno's three misses in extra time, and Enrique knows his players will have to produce a much-improved display in two more matches if they are to lift the trophy.

RELATED|

"At 1-1 the game became dangerous as we didn't generate enough chances," he said. "They're a very well-drilled side. The sending off changed the game totally. I think it could have been a more level contest with 11 v 11. But we deserved to win against 10 men," he added.

Spain now faces Italy at Wembley on Tuesday in a re-match of the 2012 final. "I've said from the outset that we are one of the seven or eight teams which, no exaggeration, could win this trophy – now we're one of four. And that's fantastic.

"Now we're only focused on getting into the finals," he said.