Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte says it is “difficult to express” how he is feeling after Spain’s shock World Cup exit to Morocco on Tuesday, but insists he doesn’t regret anything.
After breezing past Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening game, the Spaniards were expected to reach the latter stages of the tournament. They made it through to the knockouts despite suffering an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Japan in the final group game.
But after being held to a goalless draw by Morocco for 120 minutes this week, the 2010 champions were sent home on penalties. Laporte - playing at his first finals - did not feature against Japan but was selected for his country’s other three matches and conceded just once, in the 1-1 draw with Germany.
READ MORE: Rodri slams Morocco tactics after Spain crash out of World Cup
The City centre-half, who will be 32 by the time the next World Cup comes around, was left rueing what could have been. He took to Instagram to send a message to Spain fans after the devastating 3-0 penalty shoot-out loss.
“Difficult to express what it feels like when you [leave] the most important competition in this sport,” he began. “Despite ending the adventure now, I do not regret anything, in every way.
“I want to thank the team and its workers for putting us in the best possible conditions and obviously the group of players and staff, something very difficult in this sport is to feel ‘a united group’ and it was achieved.
“Now it's time to recharge batteries for the second part of the season. Thank you very much to all the people who have supported us and the thousands of positive messages received after the last game. See you soon.”
Spain have not won a World Cup knockout game since their 2010 triumph, exiting in the group stages in 2014 before bowing out at the last 16 in the latest two editions.
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