The goalkeeper of Morocco, Yassine Bounou, was the star in the match against Spain in the round of 16 of Qatar 2022. | Source: AFP or licensors | Photographer: JACK GUEZ
Jorge Sampaoli, Argentine coach of Sevilla, expressed on Wednesday that he was "happy with the performance" of his starting goalkeeper, Moroccan Yassine Bounou, in the penalty shootout that knocked out Spain from the World Cup. Sampaoli said that Spain had superiority, but lacked the necessary effectiveness to match that dominance.
Sampaoli stated in the press conference after the friendly match against Monaco that he "believed" the Spanish national team "was a candidate to win the World Cup before getting eliminated", but he insisted that they "lacked the effectiveness needed and that's why they were knocked out".
The coach from Santa Fe declared that this match against the French team has given him "the opportunity to implement a playing style that he has been practicing" in recent days, although he regretted that he "barely had ten first-team players" and when he made substitutions, "the reserve players played afterwards".