Iniesta: Spain were too concerned about what Italy were doing

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta expressed his regret as Spain made an early exit from the European Championships. 

Goals from Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle helped Italy into the quarter-finals and sent the double European champions crashing out. 

“I don’t have many words. It’s a disappointment that we have to accept. They were more effective on specific occasions and overcame us,” he said.

Iniesta, talking to Tele 5, considered the key to the Italians win was that Spain “were too concerned about what [Italy] were doing and these situations penalised us. In the second half we went for them and it was different, but we were wrong [in our approach] in the first half.”

However, he didn’t feel La Roja were lacking in enthusiasm, stoically adding: "We were excited and the sensations were good.”