Rodri: Spain Midfielder Aims Bitter Dig at Morocco, Says They Don’t Deserve Quarter Final Spot

• Spain's Rodri has aimed a salty dig at Morocco's qualification for the quarter-finals
• This is the second time in a row La Roja were eliminated in the round of 16 stages
• Rodri completed 206 passes against Morocco, breaking his own World Cup record

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, simply known as Rodri, has aimed a bitter dig at Morocco on the back of Spain's exit from the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The 2010 world champions were tipped as outsiders for this year's tournament, yet a resilient and valiant performance from the African side ended the Europeans' World Cup quest prematurely.

After 90 minutes of enthralling action coupled with 30 minutes of extra time, Morocco achieved the unthinkable, bundling Spain out of the competition via penalty shootouts.

The Atlas Lions' feat against La Roja ensured they became the fourth African nation to reach the quarter-finals of the Mundial, and also became the first-ever country from the continent to win on penalties at the World Cup, as noted by OptaJean.

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Despite the historic milestone chalked by the North Africans, Manchester midfielder Rodri - who was deployed as a centre-half in the game - aimed a salty dig at the national side.

"Morocco offered absolutely nothing, without disrespecting them. In the game, they did nothing. They just waited for the counters. They stayed behind and tried to counter us!" Rodri said as quoted by Express.

Spain suffer World Cup elimination

Achraf Hakimi struck the decisive penalty to send Morocco into the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time, winning 3-0 in a shoot-out on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw at extra time.

Spain coach Luis Enrique claimed his players prepared by taking 1,000 penalties as homework, but Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets all missed from the spot.

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Walid Regragui's side will face the mighty Portugal in what is uncharted territory for them, with the North Africans' previous best being a last-16 exit in 1986.

Spain coach speaks after exit

Sports Brief also reported that Morocco progressed to the quarter-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, defeating 2010 winner Spain 3-0 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.

Madrid-born Hakimi scored the last spot kick to send the Atlas Lions through. Coach Enrique has now praised his players despite their disappointing elimination.

Enrique defended his players, claiming they executed his idea of football perfectly and although the result did not go their way, he had no complaints about his stars.