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BSP-19
FBL-WC-2018-ESP-MAR
Hierro says Spain must tighten up after Morocco draw
KALININGRAD, Russia, June 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Spain coach Fernando Hierro
said Monday his side must defend better after a last-ditch VAR-assisted
equaliser earned them a 2-2 draw with Morocco and set up a second round clash
with hosts Russia.
The injury-time goal from substitute Iago Aspas capped a dramatic finale to
a Group B that Spain ended up topping after Iran levelled late against
Portugal to draw 1-1 in Saransk. But Hierro, himself a former centre back,
said the team needed to work on its defence following a group stage that saw
the 2010 winners ship five goals in three games.
“Obviously we can improve. Five goals in three matches is not the way
forward. The players are professional, they understand what the situation
is,” he told reporters.
Morocco took the lead in the 14th minute when Khalid Boutaib took advantage
of a horrible mix-up between Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta to race through
and slide the ball calmly through David De Gea’s legs.
Things nearly got even worse for La Roja, when Boutaib missed a golden
chance put Morocco ahead for a second time after Isco had pulled Spain level.
The striker’s low one-on-one shot was saved by De Gea after both Ramos and
Gerard Pique were caught napping with a quick throw in.
Hierro refused to single players out for criticism but promised his side
would work collectively to shore things up at the back.
“You cannot hold individuals responsible for letting goals in. Everyone
needs to defend as a team and that’s our style,” he said.
Isco’s goal was straight out of Spain’s World Cup winning playbook of 2010,
with Diego Costa setting Iniesta free in the penalty area after some crisp
one-touch passing.
The Barcelona man cut back with the outside of his right boot to Isco, who
fired into the roof of Monir El-Kajoui’s net from six yards.
“We’re happy we’ve finished top of the group, that’s what we wanted. Maybe
we wanted to feel differently after the match but we’re happy to go on. Now
we are facing the moment of truth,” Isco said.
“I have complete faith in this team.”
– ‘Continue the adventure’ –
Morocco coach Herve Renard said before the game his team, the first to be
eliminated this tournament, had been victim to “total injustice” in back-to-
back 1-0 losses.
“We would have loved to beat Spain,” Renard said at full time. “We should
be proud of what we’ve done, of the team and proud of the Moroccan public
too.”
After a bright first half, Morocco sat back in the second period and
invited Spain to try to break them down.
When they regained possession they broke with pace and purpose, and nearly
took the lead after 55 minutes when Noureddine Amrabat’s right-foot scorcher
from distance cannoned off the crossbar.
Isco’s header on the hour mark forced a goal-line clearance from Ghanem
Saiss, chosen by Renard to start over captain Mehdi Benatia.
Morocco were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty 10 minutes from time
when the ball struck Pique’s fist in the area.
They weren’t complaining minutes later, however, when substitute Youssef
En-Nesyri headed home the corner that followed to the rapture of the Moroccan
supporters.
As the 90 minutes wound down, Aspas’ clever flick from a corner was
initially adjudged by the assistant referee to have been offside.
But after intervention from VAR it was given as a goal, much to the
consternation of the Moroccan players and substitutes, some of whom stormed
the pitch in protest.
Spain now play hosts Russia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday and
Hierro said his team would be ready.
“We know it’s going to be tough with their fans at home but we do want to
continue the adventure,” he said.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1058 hrs