Lack of forward power sends Spain spinning out

‘‘That was true tonight, just as it was over the whole tournament. We created a lot of chances but couldn’t take them and ended up going out of the tournament on goals scored. Everything apart from that went well.’’

Spain went into Euro 2004 with a forward line boasting the combined talents of Raul and a rejuvenated Fernando Morientes, top scorer in the Champions League this season. Raul is the team captain, the leading goal scorer in the country’s history with 38 goals and the most experienced player in the squad.

In his three games at Euro 2004, he didn’t once look like scoring. His only meaningful contribution was to set up Morientes for a neat finish in the 1-1 draw against Greece.

Vicente, Joaquin and Joseba Etxeberria, who all turned in memorable performances on the wings, created a series of chances over the three games but the ineptitude of the forwards was spectacular.

Saez chose to bring in the promising Fernando Torres for Morientes for the Portugal game but the closest the 20-year-old came was when he hit a post as Spain chased the game.

Spain managed just two goals in three games, with midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron rescuing the side with the winner against Russia, shortly after coming on as a substitute. ‘‘Again, we created clear chances and we hit a post and the bar,’’ Saez lamented. (Reuters)

No excuses this time for sorry Spain

Spain usually depart major tournaments bemoaning their luck and cursing the referee. This time, Inaki Saez and his players could have no excuses for their first-round exit at Euro 2004, after scoring just two goals in three games in a thoroughly deflating campaign.

There’s just a feeling of great sadness. We worked hard and had a great deal of desire to reach the quarter-finals. It feels a little unfair. When we don’t have the ball we always suffer. We had to defend for 30 minutes and we paid the price for that.
— Vicente

I don’t really know why we always seem to fail at big tournaments. It’s been like this for so long but I haven’t been here long and I can’t come up with a quick answer to explain it.
— Coach Inaki Saez