World Cup 2022: Luis Enrique Makes Funny Confession After Spain Loss

• Spain made it to the Round of 16 despite losing to Japan on Thursday night
• The Spaniards, at one point, were on the verge of elimination alongside Germany
• Luis Enrique admitted he did not know Spain were on the verge of crashing out

Spain coach Luis Enrique admitted he had no idea his nation was on the verge of World Cup elimination at some point on Thursday, December 1.

Japan was the latest nation to pull off a shock result in Qatar after controversially claiming a 2-1 win over Spain, who looked like favourites after their opening 7-0 win over Costa Rica.

After a 1-1 draw against Germany in their second game, La Roja needed just a draw against the Samurai Blue to have their last 16 fate in their own hands.

Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the first half to set the Europeans on course for a routine win, but the Asians had other plans.

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Substitute Ritsu Doan equalised moments after coming on, and then came the most contentious moment of the match.

Doan was heavily involved once again as a low cross found Ao Tanaka, who bundled in from close range.

Speaking after the game, Enrique was the first to admit he was blissfully ignorant of the fact that his side was heading out of the tournament at some point.

This was after Costa Rica took the lead against Germany, which meant that for a period of about 60 seconds, it was the South American nation and Japan that would have advanced.

“We were knocked out? I didn’t know this. Enrique said as per the Mirror. “Why? I was paying attention to my match. I am not happy because we were defeated. Were we knocked out? If I found that out, I would have had a heart attack.”

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The Spain boss also subtly questioned Japan’s winner, but refused to be drawn into the debate. Having finished second in their group Spain will now come up against Morocco in the last 16.

Enrique says Japan deserved win

The former Barcelona coach also stated that Japan deserved to finish first in their World Cup group, after the Asian nation beat his team 2-1.

Hajime Moriyasu's team came from a goal down to win their final match of the round, to book their place in the last 16 of the competition.

The result ensures the Samurai Blue scaled through as Group E winners and La Roja go into the knockout rounds as runners-up.

"There were five minutes of panic. They scored two goals against us and could have scored another two," he said to La1. "When a team like Japan has nothing to lose, it happens that they fly like airplanes. Then it went back to normal."

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Enrique admitted the end of the group stage was difficult as it was, due to the close contest, but ceded Japan deserved to top their group.

"It annoys me. I wanted to be first."

Morocco coach’s message to Africans

Elsewhere, Sports Brief also reported on Morocco coach Walid Regragui giving a bold message to African nations in the World Cup.

The Atlas Lions have been the most impressive African nation so far in the tournament after topping their group, which consisted of heavy hitters like Belgium and Croatia.

Regragui believes nations from the African continent can set their sights on the trophy itself after his country's feat.