Luis Enrique Reflects on Morocco-Spain: “My Great Joy in a World Cup”

Luis Enrique has not forgotten Spain’s elimination against Morocco during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In an interview with La Nueva España, the current coach of Paris Saint-Germain revisited this historic match won by the Atlas Lions in the Round of 16, following a memorable penalty shootout.

When asked about his best memory with the Spanish national team, Luis Enrique surprised many by specifically citing this match against Morocco. Despite the elimination, the Spanish coach maintains a very different perspective from that of much of the Spanish press, which portrayed this exit as a major failure during his tenure with La Roja.

“My best memory? The last match I played against Morocco,” he stated, adding that Spain had been, in his view, “infinitely superior to one of the best emerging African teams.” Luis Enrique also recalled that the Atlas Lions had to defend for “90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time” before winning in the penalty shootout.

The Spanish coach at the time fully stands by his analysis, despite the criticism he received after this elimination. “I was criticized and I am still criticized for saying that it was my great failure. It is my great joy in a World Cup,” he confided. This strong statement shows that Luis Enrique still considers this match as one of the most significant in his journey with the Spanish national team.

For Morocco, the evening of December 6, 2022, remains one of the greatest moments in its football history. After resisting Spain for 120 minutes, the Atlas Lions secured their qualification for the quarter-finals thanks to an outstanding Yassine Bounou during the penalty shootout. This success paved the way for a historic run, culminating in a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

Luis Enrique’s remarks further highlight this encounter. While many had summarized this match as Spain’s elimination, the PSG coach sees it as a moment of sporting pride. On the Moroccan side, this victory remains primarily a symbol of a generation that has taken the Atlas Lions to a new dimension.