After bankruptcy against Japan: Spain’s Azpilicueta defends itself against allegations
Cesar Azpilicueta and Daichi Kamada
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Cesar Azpilicueta denies allegations that Spain lost to Japan on purpose to seal Germany’s World Cup defeat.
A deliberate defeat to knock Germany out of the tournament and avoid Brazil even as group runners-up? Spain right-back Cesar Azpilicueta has denied such speculation.
From a German perspective, Spain’s defeat by Japan had a very bitter aftertaste. Despite the 4-2 win against Costa Rica, the DFB team had to give up after the World Cup group stage.
As before the game, thoughts quickly arose that Spain had lost on purpose. As group runners-up, the Iberians meet Morocco instead of Croatia in the round of 16. And would avoid top favorites Brazil in a possible quarter-final.
Right-back Cesar Azpilicueta brushed aside such speculation after the defeat. The Chelsea veteran was in Spain’s starting XI against Samurai Blue but stayed in the dressing room at half-time. At this point, the favorite was still 1-0 up.
“I was myself in the second half [der Ausgabgslage] deliberately. I was on the bench, so I was aware of the situation,” Azpilicueta said.
“If you look at our group over the last few years, we’ve always given everything and gone out on the pitch to win every game, to get every ball,” he said of his team. “We’ve been penalized for just scoring one goal and then conceding another, that’s how we play. We’re the first to be disappointed that we didn’t win the game, so you can see what happens is,” the 33-year-old continued.
“It was difficult because you can’t control the other game. The only thing we could do was try to give confidence and help our team-mates to win our game. We knew we could win with a draw or would qualify with a win. It’s the only thing we can control,” he explained.
In the meantime, Spain was also out. When Costa Rica took the lead against Germany, a sensation was brewing. The goals from Havertz (two) and Füllkrug gave Spain certainty even before the final whistle that, as a group runner-up, they are definitely in the round of 16 – despite the bankruptcy against Japan.
Certainly that may have played a role in the closing stages. However, the DFB team should save themselves allegations. After all, you had everything in your own hands against Japan. And, like Spain, gave the duel out of hand after a 1-0 lead at the break.
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This article was originally published on 90min.de as After bankruptcy against Japan: Spain’s Azpilicueta defends itself against allegations released.