It is slowly sinking in: Andres Iniesta

So, has the feeling of being a World Champion sunk in?
It is slowly (sinking in)… It’s been a magnificent one week for all of us. From the time referee blew the final whistle, to holding that trophy aloft and then arriving in Madrid, it’s all like a dream.

Tell us something about the goal you scored in the final.
It is one of the most beautiful feelings that a person can experience. I was just waiting for the pass from Cesc, who was looking phenomenal. It came very quickly and I was so alone (in the area) that I thought I was offside. But I controlled it well and when I hit it I knew it had to go in because going to penalties would have been terrible.

This side seemed to get everything right.
For me personally, it is just a privilege to be among this group of players. There is so much quality here. We stuck to our principles. The passing philosophy we have, brought us this glory. We were loyal to that. We knew each other by memory, and were content to be patient.

What is the difference between this Golden Generation and the one’s from the past?
We have been coping with the pressure quite well because we knew people expected so much of us. The role of favourites doesn’t help you at all. You have to justify it and show why people rate you on the pitch, but we’ve been playing well. We play like we play — we have our style, and we needed that. We played well and were giving so much to each other: we kept the ball so well, believed in each other, and always had options both in attack and defence.

How did the mindset of all of you change as you progressed further in the tournament?
Firstly, we knew if we were not at 100 per cent, we can suffer against any side. So the key to our success was that willingness to work. But, after going through the first round, you tend to get more serious. The atmosphere gets tense, you know. Coach (Vicente del Bosque) was the key for us to remain focussed. He was like a father figure to us. Then there are a few jokes here and there to relax the nerves.

Did the win against Germany in the semis give you that mental edge going into the final?
The Germans were scared of giving us space and we hadn’t expected them to be in such a defensive mindset. They allowed us to have the ball. But, even so, we played the complete game then. The teamwork was fantastic. Then on, we really didn’t care who our opponents were. We knew this was our chance.

How do you think this win will help Spanish football?
It gives a great psychological boost. We  got rid of the underachievers tag. There will be less pressure comparatively in the future tournaments. It will also boost the juniors. It proves that we have the best league in the world. I guess this is just a beginning of better things to come in the future. 

You’ve already made Cesc wear a Barcelona T-shirt…
It wasn’t anything to do with me — it was the other two (Carles Puyol and Gerrard Pique) who carried out the joke…

But many of you, including Lionel Messi, have asked Cesc to join Barcelona.
Let’s hope so. Everybody has come out and spoken of the desire we have for him to be with us next season. We would be delighted. Not just because he is a teammate and a friend, but because it would be great for the club. He is my teammate and my friend and I wish him the best, and if he comes, we will all be delighted.