'Total Loss of Control' a Warning for Spain, Says Luis Enrique

Spain coach Luis Enrique said the loss to Japan was a wake-up call for his players. JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
Spain coach Luis Enrique said the loss to Japan was a wake-up call for his players. JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
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'Total Loss of Control' a Warning for Spain, Says Luis Enrique

Spain coach Luis Enrique said the loss to Japan was a wake-up call for his players. JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
Spain coach Luis Enrique said the loss to Japan was a wake-up call for his players. JAVIER SORIANO / AFP

Spain coach Luis Enrique blamed five minutes of "total loss of control" for his team's shock 2-1 defeat by Japan on Thursday, which saw them qualify for the World Cup last 16 second from Group E.

La Roja, among the favorites to win the tournament, would have been eliminated if Costa Rica had held on to beat Germany, although Los Ticos eventually fell to a 4-2 defeat.

Alvaro Morata sent Spain in front early on but two strikes in four minutes from Japan at the start of the second half turned the game on its head.

"(It was) five minutes of total lack of control, of panic, even," said Luis Enrique.

"They scored two goals against us, and if they had needed to score two more, then they would have scored them too, I'm sure.

"This is a World Cup and when a team like Japan does not have anything to lose, well, they decide to risk it all and flew past us like they were aeroplanes.

"The situation was under control once Japan decided to recover their previous position on the pitch and shut up shop at the back."

Ritsu Doan netted the equalizer for Japan in the 48th minute before Ao Tanaka bundled home an extremely controversial second.

The ball appeared to go out of play before Kaoru Mitoma crossed the ball to him, but after a long VAR check, officials granted the goal.

"I have seen a photo that must have been tampered with, it cannot be that this photo is real. It has to be manipulated," said Luis Enrique.

"I felt that something fishy was going on when the VAR took as much time as it did to decide... I have nothing to say.

"Luckily the team only goes into collapse mode once every four years, otherwise I wouldn't be able to cope."

- Mourning and warning -
Spain will face Morocco in the last 16 after the defeat and Luis Enrique believes his team did not deserve to finish as group winners.

"Japan go through first and it's deserved because they beat Germany and Spain," said the coach.

"The mourning and the pain, we'll go through that tonight, there's nothing to celebrate.

"We have gone through second, yes, but this has to serve as a warning to be aware that this is going to happen.

"If against Morocco we have the fortune to go in front, Morocco, will risk it all at full pelt again.

"We have to show more strength in the moments when the opposition is pressing us."

Luis Enrique was on the edge of his technical area during the game and did not realize there was a period of time where Spain were heading for elimination.

With Costa Rica 2-1 up against Germany, Spain were temporarily in third place for a few minutes, before Kai Havertz levelled the game at 2-2.

"We were going out?" asked Luis Enrique. "I did not know it because I was focused on my game, not speculating (on the other).

"If I had found out, I would have had a heart attack."



Tsitsipas Hopes ‘Home’ Comforts of Melbourne Will Bring Out the Best in Him

 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
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Tsitsipas Hopes ‘Home’ Comforts of Melbourne Will Bring Out the Best in Him

 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)

Former Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes a return to his "home" Slam at Melbourne Park can spark an upturn in his fortunes after an inconsistent 2024 saw the Greek drop out of the top 10.

Tsitsipas won his third Masters title in Monte Carlo in April but other than that found success hard to come by, finishing the year ranked 11th.

Melbourne has the largest population of Greek speakers outside Greece and Cyprus and 2023 Australian Open finalist Tsitsipas is confident he will have huge support in his latest bid for a first Grand Slam title.

"I'm really glad to be back to Melbourne," he told reporters on Saturday.

"I can't wait to start the Australian Open, which I've said is my home Slam. It's a great opportunity to be playing on these courts, to be receiving the crowd support I have been receiving over the last few years.

"I just hope my tennis blends in well with the rest of the crowd and I'm going to be able to really perform at my highest level and bring that tennis I've shown in the last few years."

The 26-year-old former French Open runner-up said his game flourished when he was in his comfort zone.

"It makes a big difference in terms of feeling on court," Tsitsipas added.

"When I travel around the world and play in different places, I have seemed to be connecting more with the European kind of vibe. I haven't had great success in the US.

"Travelling so far overseas and having that feeling of home allows me to feel good within my comfort zone. That's also why my tennis thrives and I feel better with my game."

Tsitsipas plays American Alex Michelsen in his opener at the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday.