© EuroFootball.com
The Spanish media publicly demand the resignation of Luis Aragones from the position of head coach of the national team after the Spaniards lost 3-2 to the Northern Irish team in the qualifying match for the 2008 European Championship in Belfast on Wednesday.
"Spain was humiliated by Northern Ireland, but Luis (Aragones) still does not consider resigning," declared the newspaper "El Mundo" on the front page of Thursday's edition.
"An absolute tragedy," announced "El Pais," while the sports newspaper "Marca," which publicly supported L. Aragones' candidacy for the head coach position two years ago, changed their opinion and demanded the 68-year-old coach's resignation.
"After the fiasco in the World Cup, followed by an undeserved contract extension and considering the current prospects of his team, the best thing he can do is resign," wrote "Marca."
Some newspapers compared the loss in Belfast to a similar defeat suffered against Cyprus in the qualifying round for the 2000 European Championship in 1998. At that time Javier Clemente stepped down from his position.
Before the World Cup in Germany, L. Aragones promised to resign if Spain did not reach the quarterfinals, but after losing in the round of sixteen to the French, the coach changed his mind.
L. Aragones received a lot of criticism for remaining loyal to the same players and tactical scheme of 4-3-3 and for refusing to bring in "fresh blood" to the team.
After the match on Wednesday, which L. Aragones watched quite calmly from the bench, the coach took responsibility for the defeat.
"The most guilty is the coach," said L. Aragones. "I didn't choose the right tactics. Spain is definitely stronger than our opponents, but today we suffered a painful blow in the qualifying cycle."
"But I do not plan to resign. I am satisfied with my work and want to continue it, just as I wanted to do after the World Cup," said the coach.
"I don't intend to resign, but they (the Spanish Football Federation - ed.) can make any decision," L. Aragones confirmed his decision once again.
