Del Bosque still stunned by World Cup success
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Del Bosque?[File?photo] |
Four days after leading his country to its first ever World Cup triumph, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admits he can still hardly believe what has happened.
Speaking to sports paper Diario AS this Wednesday, Del Bosque talked about the incredible reception he and his players received on their return to Madrid, where almost a million people cheered them through the streets of the Spanish capital after their return from South Africa on Monday.
"We got to the hotel and we didn't even eat, we got changed and went into the streets. It was incredible, almost everyone was dressed in red, they all looked like devils and we saw the joy on people's faces. This morning I still ask myself: is it true we are World Champions, or was it all a dream?" said Del Bosque.
The Spanish were proclaimed Champions after winning a bruising final 1-0 against a Holland side that has been widely criticized for its physical approach to the game. The Spain coach says that the pitch in Cape Town didn't help matters.
"The grass spat the ball out as if there was soap on the ball and it made it hard to control, it was not easy to play," he said, before defending the work of referee Howard Webb, who showed a record 14 yellow and one red card in the final.
In Holland Webb has received criticism for showing eight yellow and one red card to Dutch players, while in Spain there have been complains he was too permissive of the physical approach the Holland side took to the game.
"Referees have a very difficult job. Webb didn't want to hurt the image of football and that is why he didn't send off (Nigel) De Jong, although his foul on Xabi Alonso should have been a red card," said the Spain coach.
"In this World Cup, I will remember the pressure we faced from Chile and Paraguay and the way Germany played. That is all history now, ahead of us lies the future," said Del Bosque.
