Nadal o svojoj Španjolskoj na Euru
The past is history now
We were better and that's why we are in the semi-finals. We've been
looking forward to a day like this for many years. The long wait and so
many defeats, many of them unfair, have been worthwhile. Personally,
I'm moved, happy, euphoric, something I'm not accustomed to being when
I win some match or other or a tournament, because I know how difficult
it is to go on winning. But today I am euphoric because I'm convinced
we're the best team of those that are into the semi-finals.
That, of course, doesn't assure we'll triumph in the end but I
think that because of our football, our mentality, now because of
destiny and because when we win a match like today and manage to
surmount an obstacle that has been so hard for us, it's like there's a
kind of mental 'click'. The confidence and the credibility our very
high standard gives should speed us to that final.
The match was hard, extremely hard, with the typical Italian shut
down at the back from the very start. There were no spaces and we found
it very difficult to create good goal scoring chances. The Italians
were so well positioned that the only way to create something was with
an individual effort or a shot at goal from outside the area. All this
is more complicated when, in addition, you know you can't let any goals
in, an almost impossible task against a team like Italy.
In my previous columns, I've always spoken about players, about how
well they played from my point of view. I think that today the whole
team deserves a mention. Each and every one of them gave his all and
they demonstrated that that's what they are, a team. However, in my
opinion, there is one person that especially stands out and he can be
none other than Luis Aragonés, who has spent a long time putting up
with criticisms difficult to tolerate. Despite this, Luis has managed
to assemble a group of great players and, more importantly, he has
succeeded in making them into a closely united group.
I liked very much the security and determination we showed when the
time came to take the penalties. Of course, having the greatest
goalkeeper in the world in goal at a moment like that gives you
security and the conviction that victory is possible. Not everybody,
perhaps, was confident about this victory and, now that it has been
accomplished, I hope that we all realise what a great national team we
have and that we should have faith in them. We must keep on feeling
100% confident about our chances, but with our feet planted more firmly
on the ground than ever, as I have no doubt the players have. The best
is yet to come. Let's go get Russia!!