Bordeaux: Spain boss Vicente del Bosque admitted he would rather have avoided a Euro 2016 last 16 clash with old foes Italy after a 2-1 defeat to Croatia on Tuesday.
Ivan Perisic’s goal three minutes from time condemned the two-time defending champions to second place in Group D and repeat of the 2012 final with Italy in Paris on Monday.
“It is not ideal, that would have been to finish first (in the group),” said Del Bosque.
“We have to recover well. We are prepared to turn this situation around. We continue in the competition and, although it isn’t the desired way, we have to raise ourselves to continue in the Euros.”
Del Bosque lamented letting slip an early lead made by Alvaro Morata. Despite the absence of the injured Luka Modric, Croatia roared back through Nikola Kalinic and Perisic’s late strike.
Spain could now also have to face world champions Germany in the quarter-finals and hosts France in the semi-finals if they are to reach the final in Paris on July 10.
“We have time to analyse the meeting with Italy. It was not the desired route for us,” added Del Bosque.
“That is football, it seemed like we had the game controlled, but in football you can’t take anything for granted.
“We will try to recover from this disappointment and prepare for Monday. They (Italy) have been playing very well, but so had we until today and even today I don’t think we played badly.”
Captain Sergio Ramos, a Real Madrid stalwart, said the defending champions must learn from the mistakes that cost them top spot in Euro 2016 Group D as they lost 2-1 to Croatia in Bordeaux.
“Now we have to dance with the favourites, but to be champions you have to beat everyone,” said Ramos, who also missed a second half penalty.
“We will concentrate on ourselves and think about the last 16.
“We need to turn the page, learn a lot of lessons from this, so that it doesn’t happen to us again in the last 16.”
