‘I am the only one responsible for this debacle’: Peru star whose missed penalty against Australia cost his country World Cup qualification RETIRES and apologises in distraught social media post
Peru footballer Luis Advincula has retired from international football after missing a crucial penalty which saw Australia qualify for the World Cup at their expense.
The experienced defender hit the post with his spot-kick before goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne saved Alex Valera’s effort to send the Socceroos to Qatar in a 5-4 win on penalties amid hugely emotional scenes.
After the game, Advincula quit the national team with immediate effect, posting a heartfelt and distraught apology ‘to all of Peru’ on social media.
Peru footballer Luis Advincula (pictured) has retired from international football after missing a crucial penalty which saw Australia qualify for the Qatar World Cup in 2022 at their expense
Right back Advincula was consoled by team-mates at the final whistle on Monday evening
In the post, now deleted, he said: ‘First I apologise to my family and friends for the pain I caused to all of Peru.
‘I am the only one responsible for this debacle and my life will not be enough to apologise.
‘I got here today, I take a step to the side of the selection. I don’t think I have the strength to get up from this. To my colleagues, thank you very much for everything and sorry for so little.’
In a social media post, Advincula apologised to everyone in the South American country
After Martin Boyle failed to score with Australia’s first penalty, Boca Juniors right back Advincula saw Redmayne get a slight touch to Peru’s third kick, pushing it onto the post.
After Valera’s failure from the spot, heartbreaking social media footage showed Advincula collapsing to his knees in despair.
Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese said: ‘(I am) proud of my teammates that we got up in the face of adversity… We are sorry. It is a great pain for us. Now, it remains to support (the players) who are having a hard time.’