Spain’s talismanic midfielder, Andres Iniesta on Sunday announced his retirement from international football after the ‘La Roja’ were eliminated from the ongoing 2018 World Cup by hosts, Russia.

Although the Spaniards dominated proceedings for most part of the tension-soaked encounter, the Russians were able to hold on till extra-time and then penalties which they went on to win.

Koke missed a spot kick as did Iago Aspas to give Russia the win which makes it the first time they would make it to the quarter-finals in their World Cup history. They will now face Croatia, who also ousted the Danes via another penalty shoot-out  in the quarter-finals.

“It’s a reality that this is my last game with the national team, on a wonderful stage,” Iniesta told reporters after the defeat. A marvellous spell is over. Sometimes the end is not as you dreamed it,” Iniesta said.

He continued: “The national team will continue to be successful because of the level of players we have and that is what they should try.

“It would be an advantage to say that Lopetegui’s thing has to do with the result, in the end those of us who have the ball are the players. The main culprits in football are the players that are the ones on the field.”

Iniesta, who played a total of 131 times for Spain, scoring on 13 occasions including the goal that won them the World Cup in 2010 joins Argentina’s Javier Macherano who retired after the Albi Celeste were eliminated from the Mundial by a French team inspired by teenage sensation, Kylian Mbappe.