Million-plus gather in Madrid to receive World champs Spain

Updated on: 13 July,2010 07:58 AM IST |
PA Sport |

World champs Spain put on a show for the million-plus gathered to receive them

World champs Spain put on a show for the million-plus gathered to receive them

Madrid Swept by the football wave...

Spain, who on Sunday claimed their first-ever World Cup title after Andres Iniesta's extra-time winner earned them a 1-0 final victory over Holland in Johannesburg, landed back in Madrid this afternoon before embarking on an evening of official celebrations and festivities.

Those celebrations included meeting members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister before taking an open-top bus ride through the streets of the Spanish capital, where rows and rows of well-wishers ufffd expected to number more than a million ufffd had been waiting for hours to cheer the team on from the pavements and road.

King's reception
Having landed at Madrid's Barajas airport yesterday, the squad were immediately taken to a hotel to eat and prepare before making their way to the Royal Palace, where they had a reception with King Juan Carlos.

With captain Iker Casillas cradling the World Cup trophy, the squad and team officials then made their way to the Moncloa section of the city, where they met Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Coach Del Bosque said at a brief presentation: "This cup, this triumph is for all of you, and for the whole Spanish football factory."

Big celebration
The European and world champions then boarded an open-top bus before slowly making their way into the heart of the city, which last night saw hundreds of thousands of fans celebrate deep into the night after watching Spain's historic victory on giant screens in Madrid's main Paseo de Castellana and in bars and homes across the city.

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