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Spain media reaction: disaster, nightmare, laughing stock Spain media reaction: disaster, nightmare, laughing stock
(about 7 hours later)
“We believe”, ran the headline on the morning that Spain’s defence of their world title began. But no one could believe this; a few hours later, everything had changed. A World Cup winning team had never been beaten so badly. It was 64 years since Spain conceded five times and this was utterly unexpected – the third worst defeat in their entire history, inflicted on the best team in their entire history. Even those who harboured doubts did not expect a humiliation as hurtful, one that appeared to hasten the end of an era. “We believe”, ran the headline on the morning that Spain’s defence of their world title began. But no one could believe this – a few hours later, everything had changed. A World Cup winning team had never been beaten so badly. It was 64 years since Spain conceded five times and this was utterly unexpected – the third worst defeat in their entire history, inflicted on the best team in their entire history. Even those who harboured doubts did not expect a humiliation as hurtful, one that appeared to hasten the end of an era.
From “we believe” to “humiliated”, “ridiculed” and “destroyed” in a day, this was a nightmare that had the media seeking explanations. The post-mortems began with the body still warm; they will surely continue over the next few days. It was after all, “worst nightmare of a champion”, in the words of the sports daily AS. Marca called it a “total disaster”. From “we believe” to “humiliated”, “ridiculed” and “destroyed” in a day, this was a nightmare that had the media seeking explanations. The post-mortems began with the body still warm; they will surely continue over the next few days. It was after all, the “worst nightmare of a champion”, in the words of the sports daily AS. Marca called it a “total disaster”.
“Spain were the laughing stock of the fans in the second half,” wrote Manuel Jabois in El Mundo. “There were so many olés going round that it was as if they were in the Maestranza bull ring.” Arjen Robben had slipped the knife in, redemption for that chance in South Africa. In El País, Lu Martín wrote that: “Robben destroyed them, humiliating them all, especially Sergio Ramos, and he was merciless with Casillas. Ramos left his magic in Lisbon.”“Spain were the laughing stock of the fans in the second half,” wrote Manuel Jabois in El Mundo. “There were so many olés going round that it was as if they were in the Maestranza bull ring.” Arjen Robben had slipped the knife in, redemption for that chance in South Africa. In El País, Lu Martín wrote that: “Robben destroyed them, humiliating them all, especially Sergio Ramos, and he was merciless with Casillas. Ramos left his magic in Lisbon.”
Ramos was far from alone. Gerard Piqué had played Van Persie onside for the first Dutch goal, David Silva missed a wonderful opportunity at 1-0 that might have changed everything, and Spain’s collapse in the last 20 minutes was absolute. Casillas’s superb saves during that spell did not hide earlier mistakes and the captain was swift to apologise afterwards. Spain were complicit in their demise. There was a lack of aggression, energy and enthusiasm, concluded Ramón Besa in El País.Ramos was far from alone. Gerard Piqué had played Van Persie onside for the first Dutch goal, David Silva missed a wonderful opportunity at 1-0 that might have changed everything, and Spain’s collapse in the last 20 minutes was absolute. Casillas’s superb saves during that spell did not hide earlier mistakes and the captain was swift to apologise afterwards. Spain were complicit in their demise. There was a lack of aggression, energy and enthusiasm, concluded Ramón Besa in El País.
There will be fierce criticism to come. The Olympiacos manager Míchel feared that “hard times are coming.” He added: “I believe in these players [but] they will have to grit their teeth. Spain left an impression of being disconcerted that teams will attack now.” There will be fierce criticism to come. The Olympiakos manager, Míchel, feared that “hard times are coming”. He added: “I believe in these players [but] they will have to grit their teeth. Spain left an impression of being disconcerted that teams will attack now.”
“We have lost our guardian angel. We’re seeing stars but none of them are the star that a champion has on his shirt,” began the match report in AS. Its author, Juanma Trueba, bemoaned Spain’s self-inflicted wounds, noting: “Losing is a mistake but getting hammered by Holland is our fault. We slipped in the dark and then we hurt ourselves trying to find the light to put it on. We tripped over all the sharp-edged furniture and the cut is deep.”“We have lost our guardian angel. We’re seeing stars but none of them are the star that a champion has on his shirt,” began the match report in AS. Its author, Juanma Trueba, bemoaned Spain’s self-inflicted wounds, noting: “Losing is a mistake but getting hammered by Holland is our fault. We slipped in the dark and then we hurt ourselves trying to find the light to put it on. We tripped over all the sharp-edged furniture and the cut is deep.”
Very deep. This was about more than just specific mistakes, even if there were isolated moments that contributed to this result, and the media wondered if the conclusions from this game were more profound. This was not just a defeat; the question in the air was whether it was the end. “The thing that leaves us on edge is not knowing if this was a bad night or if it will be a bad summer,” Trueba continued, before signing off saying: “Tomorrow is another day. I hope.”Very deep. This was about more than just specific mistakes, even if there were isolated moments that contributed to this result, and the media wondered if the conclusions from this game were more profound. This was not just a defeat; the question in the air was whether it was the end. “The thing that leaves us on edge is not knowing if this was a bad night or if it will be a bad summer,” Trueba continued, before signing off saying: “Tomorrow is another day. I hope.”
In the Catalan daily Sport, they were drawing the Barcelona-Spain parallel again. Spain’s success had been Barcelona’s, they had always claimed more than a little self-interestedly, now Spain’s decline would be theirs too. “Barcelona’s end of an era has passed on to the national team, as is natural: the players are exhausted, mentally and physically,” one report ran.In the Catalan daily Sport, they were drawing the Barcelona-Spain parallel again. Spain’s success had been Barcelona’s, they had always claimed more than a little self-interestedly, now Spain’s decline would be theirs too. “Barcelona’s end of an era has passed on to the national team, as is natural: the players are exhausted, mentally and physically,” one report ran.
“The sun has set in Flanders,” wrote AS’s editor Alfredo Relaño, referring to the loss of Spain’s empire. “This felt like the end. This glorious generation has nothing more to give. This was the first black night for an incomparable team to which we will always be grateful.”“The sun has set in Flanders,” wrote AS’s editor Alfredo Relaño, referring to the loss of Spain’s empire. “This felt like the end. This glorious generation has nothing more to give. This was the first black night for an incomparable team to which we will always be grateful.”