Sport360 rounds-up the best of the post-match reaction. We were very aware of that.
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It was the first time Spain came under pressure from a side having previously dominated possession and most of the chances against Czech Republic and Turkey. “We didn’t play badly but that’s the result so we have to prepare to play against them”, he concluded. “I think it wasn’t the path we wanted to take”, Del Bosque was quoted as saying by goal.com after the loss. But tonight was better. It’s big success and now we can be self-confident. It’s a pity. At least we got the qualification but we face now a more hard opponent.
“We were criticised a lot and mentally it’s been tough for us. We are prepared to turn this situation around”.
BORDEAUX, FRANCE Croatia’s players showed the world they are not like the supporters who brought shame on the country with their behaviour at Euro 2016, coach Ante Cacic said on Tuesday. “We will try and recover as well as possible from this setback and be in as good condition as possible on Monday”.
“This was a really special evening for us”, he said. “We deserve it. Not always quality wins but effort does”.
But Kalinic flicked home a near-post cross before the break to level the game and things continued to go Croatia’s way when Danijel Subasic kept out Ramos’s penalty after David Silva had been fouled. Also Turkish players like things to be hard.
Croatia players celebrate at the end of the Euro 2016 Group D soccer match between Croatia and Spain at the Nouveau Stade in Bordeaux, France, Tuesday, June 21, 2016.
After Messi doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with his 55th worldwide goal, his tournament-leading fifth, Gonzalo Higuain quickly ended USA comeback hopes when he put the rebound of his initial shot past goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 50th. We know the quality [Ivan] Perišić has but that’s it. “We’ve lost, all of us have lost, we’re all to blame”.
And despite Turkey always looking risky on the counter, the lost opportunities piled up at the other end: Pavel Kadeřbek shooting at Volkan Babacan, Necid prodding over and Jaroslav Plail seeing a long-range strike tipped over.
Turkeys first goal at these finals was easy on the eye, if not the ears given the majority pro-Turkish crowd.
“Our goal was to qualify from the group, which unfortunately we haven’t managed”.
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Only one team, the Czech Republic, was definitely eliminated; Turkey and Albania were left with hope but no security; and the eight teams playing Wednesday were left knowing exactly what they need to do to stay on in France.
