Luis Enrique went further in his defence of the Real Madrid forward by contextualising the Panenka technique within the history of the game's greats. The Spanish coach pointed out that Diaz is far from the first player to attempt the audacious chip on the biggest stage, noting that the narrative surrounding the technique is entirely dependent on whether the ball crosses the line. When it works, it is hailed as a stroke of genius; when it fails, it is labelled as arrogance.
"I remember Zinedine Zidane, who is a football God, did a Panenka during a World Cup," Enrique recalled, referencing the French legend's goal in the 2006 final against Italy. "I also remember Sergio Ramos who took a Panenka during a very important game. Lots of players have done it."
The former Barcelona boss highlighted the hypocrisy often found in football analysis. "When you score that type of penalty, nobody says anything and everybody applauds," he argued. "But when you miss, there are lots of negative opinions about that player, and he is a magnificent player."
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