Andres Iniesta has revealed that he was "going to take" Spain's penalty in their 2-1 defeat to Croatia on Tuesday night.
Sergio Ramos missed from the penalty spot when the scores were level at 1-1 in the Euro 2016 clash in Bordeaux, which would decide which team would top Group D.
Croatia ultimately won the match when Ivan Perisic netted in the 87th minute, and Barcelona midfielder Iniesta has claimed that he was on penalty duty for the European champions.
"I was going to take it, but Ramos was confident and only the one who takes it can miss. The confidence is entirely in whoever wants to take it. We had the misfortune of missing," AS quotes Iniesta as saying.
"It's not good when you lose but we continue. These things happen and now we have to continue to prepare for the game against Italy with the goal of reaching as far as possible.
"In theory we have stronger teams on paper but you never know. In football these things happen and you have to be prepared for everything, not just for the moments when you're being praised."
The defeat was Spain's first loss in the finals of a European Championship since 2004.