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Spain defenders Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique say national coach Vicente del Bosque deserves to decide his own future amid talk of the end of an era after the Euro 2016 exit to Italy. Antonio Conte's Italy side enjoyed a deserved 2-0 win over Spain at the Stade de France, with Del Bosque afterwards refusing to either confirm or deny that he was leaving the post. The former Real Madrid boss has spent eight years in charge, in which he won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 but then oversaw disappointing 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 campaigns. Immediate reports in the Spanish media talked of potential successors, with ex-Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Mallorca and Granada coach Joaquin Caparros best positioned according to AS, which also suggested former Everton manager Roberto Martinez as a possibility. Marca, meanwhile, reported that ex-Spain under-21 and Porto coach Julen Lopetegui is the favourite at the Spanish FA (RFEF). Del Bosque repeatedly said on Monday that he would speak to RFEF president Angel Maria Villar before saying anything publicly, and no decision is now expected until mid-July at the earliest given that Villar may put his name forward for the UEFA presidential election and also faces legal challenges to his position in Spain. Speaking in the mixed zone after the game, Real Madrid defender Ramos said: "All the players have always shown respect for the coach. "I don't know what the boss wants to do, it is for him to make a decision, together with the president." Barcelona centre-back Pique made the same point when speaking with reporters at the stadium. "[Del Bosque] deserves the right to decide himself," Pique said. "He is a very big person and it is best that he decides. If he has the strength, he should carry on." Ramos, 30, was one of a group of senior players including Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas who have been involved throughout the Spanish era of success, which began at Euro 2008, and who did not play at anything near their best in either the final group-game defeat against Croatia or the Italy loss. Asked if it was time for a "generational change" ahead of World Cup 2018 qualifiers next autumn, Ramos said: "I don't know if there should be a change or not. "From the armchair, with a bag of crisps, it is easy to talk. I have seen players perform very well, despite their age. I am still fully motivated. Of course we can go for the World Cup. Some people are happy that some players have not played their best, but you cannot always be in top form." Pique, 29, has been part of the setup since the 2010 World Cup win and enjoyed a better tournament on a personal level. However, he said: "What is sure is that this team is not as good as when we won the World Cup and the Euros. "There are some players with a lot of potential but the level is not the same and we must accept that. Now it is about getting to Russia [for the 2018 World Cup] in best condition possible to compete with the biggest teams." He said the late goal conceded to Croatia's Ivan Perisic in their third group game had hurt the team after the 3-0 win over Turkey in their previous match. "Perisic's goal damaged us, not just for losing that game but because the path to the final became a mountain," he said. "Since we lost to Georgia [pre-tournament] I warned that we were not favourites to win the Euros. We must recognise we are not the best national team." Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is one of the few younger players to have broken into the team in recent years, and had a mixed game against Italy, having been partly at fault for Giorgio Chiellini's opener before going on to produce a string of excellent saves. Asked about a changing of the guard in AS, De Gea said: "This national team has marked an age, we have a style of play and we must keep doing it, improving. "Now we must think about qualifying for the World Cup."
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