When training doesn't help: how the Spanish prepared for an 11-meter penalty shootout. © REUTERS

The Spanish national team could not escape the curse of an 11-meter penalty series.

In last night's World Cup quarter-final match, the Spaniards, considered favorites, lost (0:0, series 0:3) to Morocco and had to hang their heads and go home.

It is reported that coach Luis Enrique, preparing for the penalty shootout, ordered his players to take a thousand shots, but it still did not help.

The coach is particularly upset that despite spending hours improving their game, the Spaniards were unable to score a single shot against Morocco - Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler, and captain Sergio Busquets resorted to head-in-hands despair.