Spain and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has told his critics they should enjoy it while they can, adding: "In the end they will be silenced, as they have been for many years."
Ramos was speaking after conceding the penalty from which Italy equalised in Thursday evening's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Turin.
Spain seemed set for victory after dominating possession and going ahead when Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon's error let in Vitolo to open the scoring, but Ramos tripped Eder in the penalty area, and Daniele De Rossi equalised from the spot in what was Italy's only shot on target of the entire 90 minutes.
Ramos, who has conceded four penalties from his 11 appearances in all competitions this season, faced criticism in the aftermath but he told reporters in the mixed zone at Juventus Stadium: "At the end of the day, mistakes can happen to everyone.
"Even Buffon, and here in Italy he is a national symbol, he gets applauded. In Spain they whistle you. That is the big difference. In Spain there is envy, and here there is admiration "
"I hope that those who want have a go at me enjoy it now but in the end they will be silenced, as they have been for many years. They've torn strips off me. But I did not get too high with the praise, and the criticism will not destroy me either "
Spain's players protested the penalty decision at the time, with German referee Felix Brych at first missing the incident but then pointing to the spot after consulting with his assistant behind the goal. Ramos did not deny he had made contact with Eder but suggested officials singled him out for stricter attention than anyone else.
"I saw it as I was going through doping, which always seems to pick me " Ramos said. "It was a very strict penalty, one of those that gets whistled just one of 40 times. I don't know, but recently they have my number. I'll have to do something to try and change it. But I'm not going to blame the referee "
"Apart from the penalty we played a great game, keeping possession, and could have killed the game by taking another of our chances, but football is like this, about the little mistakes that can be made. But I'm proud of the game "
Madrid skipper Ramos has avoided the mixed zone at the Bernabeu even as his side have gone through a dip in form that has led coach Zinedine Zidane to deny the team is in crisis.
"I have preferred to remain to the side, not for any particular reason " Ramos said. "To stay away a bit from the papers, the radio. But when you are captain you have to show your face. And here I am today "
Asked if he was feeling upset or hurting at the criticism, Ramos said: "I feel good, physically very good. I've begun the season with some mistakes and maybe some people only remember those little details. You can respect that point of view, but I do not share it. I've never said I was hurting."