Spanish PM hails Barca 'dream team'

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hailed Barcelona as the "dream team" and predicted the country would now do the treble and win the World Cup, after taking Euro 2008 and yesterday the Champions League.

"Spanish football is very strong," a beaming Zapatero, who attended the Champions League final match in Rome with King Juan Carlos, told Spanish television.

"We've won the European Cup, today the Champions League and now we will win the World Cup."

"It is a dream team," he said referring to the Barcelona players that beat Manchester United 2-0 yesterday.

"It was a great match and one in which Barca's superiority was evident. Barcelona has shown that it is the best team in Europe. The team have won three titles this season, and that is very difficult."

Zapatero - a Barcelona supporter - singled out for praise midfielder Andres Iniesta.

"I told him 'you're a great player and an extraordinary person," Zapatero said.

Spain won Euro 2008 in Vienna in June last year, defeating Germany 1-0 in the final to take the country's first major football trophy in 44 years.