When this game and especially this day was over and Luis Enrique had to answer one of the last questions, Spain's national coach took a deep breath.
"Yes, it was a special day for me, for my family.
No doubt,” he said, not referring to the 1-1 draw against Germany in the World Cup group game on Sunday evening in Qatar.
On that day, his daughter Xana, who died in 2019, would have been 13 years old.
"She is there for us every day," added the 52-year-old.
Even before the kick-off, Luis Enrique had reminded him of the girl.
"Today we're not only playing against Germany.
Today is also a very special day because Xanita would have been 13 years old.
My love, where you are, lots of kisses and have a great day," the 52-year-old said in a video message on Instagram while on a bike.
His youngest daughter had died of bone cancer at the time.
Meanwhile, Spain is happy about the "puntazo", the "super point", from the "titanic draw" against Germany, but the ease of the 7-0 opening win against Costa Rica has vanished for now.
“You have to remember to win yourself – Costa Rica is doing well.
And we're thinking about Japan, that will be difficult enough," said Spain coach Luis Enrique, addressing the German team and Hansi Flick, with a view to the forthcoming final group game against the team around Frankfurt's Daishi Kamada on Thursday (8 p.m. CET in the FAZ -Live ticker for the World Cup, on ARD and on MagentaTV).
A draw would be enough for Spain to progress - and could even lose if Germany beat Costa Rica but don't come back from the current goal difference of eight goals.
"We will play to win," promised Enrique.
However, he did not want to promise that he would field his best eleven.
“No matter which players I choose – they are all good players.
All 26 deserve to play.” That was also proven by Atlético Madrid's Álvaro Morata, who put the Iberians in the lead as a joker.