PURCHASE, N.Y. ā It was a difficult 48 hours of soccer for David Villa.
On Sunday, he joined more than 82,000 fans at Met Life Stadium to see his former FC Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi miss a penalty kick as Chile defeated Argentina in a penalty-kick shootout in the Copa America final for the second time in as many years.
And on Monday, the former Spanish star watched on television with his family and New York City FC teammate Andoni Iraola as Spain was eliminated from Euro 2016 by Italy.
āIt was difficult for me because Spain didnāt play well. Italy was better. Congratulations to Italy,ā Villa said on Tuesday, as NYCFC prepared for Sunday's #NYDerby at Yankee Stadium against the rival New York Red Bulls. āDifficult for Spain, because in the last year we are used to seeing the national team win, always.ā
Just as he believes NYCFCās 7-0 loss to the Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium on May 21 was one of those impossible-to-explain, freak occurrences, Villa is hoping Spainās performance against Italy was a one-off, especially with World Cup qualification kicking off in the fall ā including a rematch with Italy in Milan on Oct. 6.
āWe have very good players. Maybe the Spanish team needs a change, I donāt know. The federation and obviously [Vicente] del Bosque is the best coach to make the decision,ā Villa said. āThey have to stay ready because in September they have qualifying games for Russia. In Russia, they have another opportunity and Iām sure the Spanish team will be more competitive than at the Euro.ā
Villa was also gutted for Messi, who announced his retirement from international soccer after Argentina fell in a fourth consecutive final.
āItās very bad news for soccer. Messi is the best player in the world. For me, I always say the same, not only in the world, but in history,ā Villa said. āIāve never seen any player make the things Messi makes. I hope he [still] plays with Argentina because the World Cup in Russia is in two years, and obviously the World Cup in Russia is not the same without Messi.
Villa said he hadnāt spoken to Messi and doesnāt know why he made the decision he did. But he hopes that he has a change of heart after some time off to reflect.
āI donāt know what happened in his mind,ā Villa said. āI know heās strong, a professional player, heās sure now disappointed because he lost one more final in penalty kicks again. Iām sure, with one month off on holiday, heās thinking with his family and maybe he takes another decision.ā