Luis Enrique

This “idea” had previously driven a young Spain side to within a penalty kick of the Euro 2020 final, and brought qualification for two Nations League final ...

[Nico Williams](https://theathletic.com/football/player/nico-williams-3ww4cGhbJ5lTcHqH/) and [Alejandro Balde](https://theathletic.com/football/player/alejandro-balde-8v0WQV7fSHX3uugz/), lack the experience to really question their boss. Directly following the elimination by Morocco, there was a contrasting view discussed at the highest levels of the federation that the team had not progressed at all in four years. No member of the team said they had adopted the wrong approach or tactics, just that the idea they had for the game had not worked out as expected. Some voices close to players say the problem is not so much the style of play as the lack of leaders or experienced characters who would take initiative themselves and not just pass it on. None of Enrique’s top-three takers — Sarabia, [Carlos Soler](https://theathletic.com/football/player/carlos-soler-ajYYZrGjt22WZoVa/) and Busquets — were able to score from the spot. “In the end, the attitude was 10 out of 10 by all the team, not just today, every week, every day. The Asturian had clearly stated to the players before the game that they needed to be more ruthless with their passing, break lines and switch the play. Maybe Pedri or Gavi had the talent to one day match Xavi and Iniesta’s achievements, but elsewhere in the team the level was not the same. Pedri, characteristically, had the most honest and perceptive analysis of what had gone wrong: “We did not have enough rhythm with the ball to move them from side to side.” The mood among the players was still generally positive, and fully supportive of their coach. The 2-1 defeat to Japan generated plenty of anger — artificial or not — among a substantial section of the Spanish media who had been biting their tongue when all was going well for Luis Enrique. [Thiago Alcantara](https://theathletic.com/football/player/thiago-alcantara-uOkkaZsOvZ89x8Fz/), Iago Aspas or Borja Iglesias might have been good choices, and all three had been in Luis Enrique squads before, but fell by the wayside.