Enrique Backs Ramos To Recover From Penalty Misses
Spain manager Luis Enrique says Sergio Ramos’ status as La Roja’s designated penalty taker will not be affected despite the Real Madrid man missing two penalties against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday.
On a record-breaking night for Ramos in which he surpassed Gianluigi Buffon as the most capped player in European football history with his 177th appearance for Spain, the 34-year-old somewhat soured the occasion by fluffing his lines twice from the spot.
Ramos had converted his last 25 penalties for club and country but Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer was on hand to frustrate the 2010 World Cup winner in a game which ended 1-1.
After Switzerland took the lead through Remo Freuler in the 26th minute, substitute Gerard Moreno sparred Ramos’ blushes with Spain’s equaliser in the 89th minute.
"Sergio Ramos' record with penalties is up there with the very best," Luis Enrique said after the game. "It would be very unfair to take him off because he's missed one, two, three.
"If there were another penalty, he would've taken it...if he misses two, to take him off penalty duties would be a joke. There's a list of penalty takers and Sergio Ramos is at the top."
Spain’s goalscorer Moreno was equally vocal in his support for Ramos, who is also his country’s joint eighth all-time top scorer with 23 goals.
"Sergio is a born winner. Today he couldn't score the two penalties but he's played many games – many defeats, many victories. He has a lot of experience," Moreno said.
"Today the penalties didn't go in but I don't know how many he's made before that. It's not something we should worry about. I'm sure if there's another penalty he's going to take it and he's going to score.
"We are all calm. Sergio is also calm. I haven't been able to talk with him yet but I'm very calm that the next penalty Sergio takes he's going to score."
