Salvador (Brazil), June 14 (IANS/EFE) Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez admitted that the 1-5 loss to the Netherlands Friday in the World Cup was the "hardest loss" of his career.
"It was a terrible match, a debacle. We did everything wrong," the Barcelona playmaker said after the game, reports EFE.
The 34-year-old player also urged the fans to have faith in the defending champions when they face Chile Wednesday in what will be a must-win situation.
Forward Fernando Torres also admitted that Spain came up short on the night.
"We didn't have any solution to the Netherlands' game plan. We gave their full-backs too much space and they had all the time they needed to play balls in behind us. They created a lot of chances on the counter, and it doesn't matter how many goals they scored. We just can't make any excuses. They were better, as simple as that," Torres added.
Spain are at the bottom of Group B with Australia, who were also defeated 1-3 by Chile Friday.
--IANS/EFE
abr/bg
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories
Over 30 subscriber-only stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app