Gerard Pique has decided to hang up his boots after Spain’s shock exit from the FIFA World Cup 2018 at the hands of hosts Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday. Pique, who has made 102 appearances for the Spanish national team, has been Spain’s centre-back pairing along with Sergio Ramos.
On Sunday, Pique handball inside Spain’s penalty area proved to be a crucial moment as Russia knocked out Spain 4-3 on penalties. Pique has won 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2012 European Championships along with Spain.
Before Pique, Spanish stalwart Andres Iniesta announced his retirementsoon after Spain got knocked out of the World Cup. Iniesta, who had made it clear before the start of the World Cup that this is will be his final tournament in the national colours, bowed out with a heavy heart calling it the “saddest day of my life”.
“It is a reality that is my last match with the national team,” Iniesta said. “Sometimes the endings are not as one dreams. It is the saddest day of my career.” The diminutive midfielder played 131 matches for Spain and scored 13 goals, including the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against Netherlands.
70th-ranked Russia managed to hold Spain to a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time to take the match to penalty shootout. In the shootout, Igor Akinfeev managed to make two saves while David de Gea failed to make any as Spain were dumped out from the Round of 16.
Spain have now failed to win a knockout game at three major tournaments since it won Euro 2012. Even though it was De Gea inability to save a penalty in the end that cost Spain, Pique’s handball that gave Russia the penalty was the turning point of the match.
Throughout the match Russia took just six attempts at goal, of which only three were on target. With Spain leading 1-0, courtesy an own goal from Sergei Ignashevich, Gerard Pique handled the ball in his penalty box just around five minutes before half time.
With that, Pique conceded two penalties at the World Cup 2018, more than any other Spanish player in the competition since 1966.
Artem Dzyuba stepped up to take the penalty and equalised for Russia, after which they defended their goal like their lives depended on it to stretch the match till the penalties. Post that, it was a remarkable story as Russia registered the biggest win of their international history.