Spain celebrates World Cup triumph

MADRID - Madrid gave a memorable reception to Spain’s World Cup heroes, with more than 2 million fans lining the streets Monday to catch a glimpse of Andres Iniesta and company.

The mega-party finished close to midnight on the Explanada del Rey on the banks of the Manzanares river, with players dancing to Queen’s classic We Are The Champions and thanking fans for their support.

Reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina became an impromptu master of ceremonies, introducing the players to the delighted crowd one by one and cracking jokes about all of them.

Spain won the World Cup for the first time by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in an ill-tempered final Sunday in Johannesburg with an extra-time goal from Iniesta.

Their victory flight from Johannesburg landed three hours behind schedule in Madrid.

Hundreds of delighted fans went out to Madrid’s Barajas airport to welcome their heroes home, but Iniesta and company were quickly driven to the Zarzuela royal palace for an official audience with King Juan Carlos.

The king, a keen sports fan, was unable to attend the final because he is recovering from a lung operation.

He told the players: “You are an example to all of us, an example to the new generations of nobility, of teamwork and of fighting spirit. Thank you, champions, in the name of the royal family and of all Spaniards.”

After the royal audience, the players went to the Moncloa palace, seat of the government, to receive the thanks of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his ministers.

The prime minister said: “This cup belongs to all the Spaniards and players who have tried to win it for many generations.”

Zapatero singled out Iniesta for special praise, not only for Sunday’s winning goal but also for showing, straight after the goal, a shirt in memory of Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol defender who died of a massive heart attack in August at age 26.

Iniesta responded by saying: “Thank you for the reception. I am proud to form part of this team. This World Cup belongs to everyone.”

Zapatero praised national manager Vicente del Bosque, who had said that the trophy was “for all the Spanish football family, for the small clubs as well as the big clubs.”

Spain captain Iker Casillas said: “The name of Spain is going to be in the highest place for four years. This cup is for all of you.”

Casillas and company then embarked on a victory parade through the streets of the capital, which took almost five hours because of the sea of fans who had turned out to greet them.

The parade started in Moncloa, then continued through key parts of the capital before finishing by the Manzanares river with the inevitable chorus of We Are The Champions.