Ramos wasn't supposed to take Spain penalty, reveals Iniesta
Andres Iniesta says he was set to take Spain's second-half penalty against Croatia before Sergio Ramos intervened.
Spain were awarded a spot kick in the 70th minute in Bordeaux with the score 1-1, when Sime Vrsaljko bundled David Silva to the floor in Croatia's penalty area.
Eyebrows were raised when Ramos stepped up, and the Real Madrid defender's effort was comfortably saved by Danijel Subasic. Spain's pain was then compounded when Ivan Perisic broke clear three minutes from the end to score a dramatic winner for Croatia.
The result means Spain finished second in Group D and will now face Italy in the last 16, but Iniesta afterwards revealed the result might have been very different.
> > I was going to take it, but Ramos was confident and only the one who takes it can miss," Iniesta said in quotes reported by AS. > > > "The confidence is entirely in whoever wants to take it. We had the misfortune of missing.> > "These things happen and now we have to continue to prepare for the game against Italy with the aim of going as far as possible. > > > "In theory we have stronger teams \[to play\] on paper, but you never know. These things happen in football and you have to be prepared for everything, not only for the times that you're being praised. > > > "We're on the more complicated side \[of the draw\] in theory, but we are Spain and we have to remain confident. > >