Sixteen years and a week ago Andrés Iniesta (Fuentealbilla, 1984) was the living image of happiness. He was sitting in seat D, row 12 of a charter that had departed from Johannesburg heading to Madrid. He was wearing the Spanish national team jersey with the number 6 on the back. And he was recounting, still fresh in his memory, the play of the goal that allowed la roja to enter the club of world champions. Seven hours had passed since the momentum and the man from La Mancha had not yet seen his goal replayed. Unthinkable nowadays, where everything moves at the speed of light, but possible then. Iniesta now speaks to La Vanguardia from Dubai, where he is about to start the campaign with his first team as a coach, Gulf FC of the United Arab Emirates. From there he recalls his memories of 2010 and projects his analysis for this Sunday’s final.
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The message
“I would tell Lamine that the nerves he may have will disappear once the match starts”
How is this Spanish national team similar to the 2010 world champion team?
Saving the differences in terms of time and different eras, I believe there are similarities. It is a team that brings us joy when you watch them play, that you identify with the same way of playing, and I also think it resembles in the quality of the group, it is an incredible quality.
In terms of management, do you think Luis de la Fuente uses the same method as Vicente del Bosque?
A marked style
“Those of us who have practiced this style of play know it works”
I think so, the results are there, it’s proven. Luis, the coach, knows all the players perfectly, he has had many of them in the youth categories and they have also been playing together for some time. You can feel it, they are a group of players who have already been champions with the national team, they are now in a World Cup final and the core of the team is still very young. And that makes them a very exciting team.
From a footballing point of view, what would you highlight most about the Spanish national team?
I like that it is a team with a very marked style and that they go all the way with that idea, regardless of the result, the opponent, and the setting. Those of us who have practiced this style of play know that they are footballers with incredible talent and that this style of play works.
Praise for a friend
“I always expect the best from Messi, he continues with the same desire to win”
Did you imagine that at 39 years old Leo Messi would maintain this level?
Well, I always expect everything from Leo, I always expect the best. Beyond the fact that he is playing in the United States, he has continued going with his national team. What you can see from Leo at different moments of the competition is his great level as always. He continues with that desire to keep winning, to keep improving, and he shows it in every match.
Is that motivation the key to Messi’s longevity?
To be in the condition he is and at that age you need to do many things well. Taking care of yourself, continuing to train well, continuing to compete, having a team around you that supports you… Many things. He continues to be at a spectacular level, which entails a lot of difficulty.
Have you been able to communicate with Messi during the World Cup?
No, I sent him a message a few weeks ago but he must be very focused on his own things.
Lamine Yamal has been in the spotlight since he burst onto the elite scene. Do you dare to give him any advice for the final?
Tell him that, logically, it is a different setting but when the match starts the nerves he may have will disappear. Before starting he will have that restlessness, but in the end everyone has to keep doing what they do.
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The experience
“In this final fatigue is secondary, you already give much more than you have”
What aspect could tip the match?
I envision a very, very contested final. It will be a head-to-head match, each with their weapons. Both teams will have to give their best version. Spain comes with very good momentum and Argentina is already showing that it is capable of turning matches around when it is behind on the scoreboard.
Will the footballing or mental aspect be more important?
Both. It will be key to manage many emotions and situations that arise during the match. It is the last match of the season and fatigue will be secondary. In this match you already give much more than you have.
In 2010, on the return flight from Johannesburg to Madrid, you had bruises on your legs and an open wound on your knee, courtesy of the Dutchman Van Bommel. Do you foresee a rough final?
I foresee an intense final. But it is the final, no longer quarterfinals or semifinals. Obviously, within the rules, both teams will go all out. It is a super final, a Spain-Argentina with a lot at stake.
Who would you like to be Iniesta’s successor as a key goalscorer?
What matters is that Spain lifts the cup. The rest stays there, the name for history, but the important thing is to put another star on the jersey.
What is your best memory from that South African month?
The day-to-day coexistence we had. We were in Potchefstroom, where it was terribly cold, but I remember it fondly. The treatment we had with the people of South Africa was very nice. The truth is it was great.
This Saturday you travel to New York to watch the final. Do you get very nervous as a spectator?
I don’t know if I would say nervous because I won’t be playing but I will experience it with tension and wanting Spain to play well and continue showing the same confidence and, above all, wanting this generation to be world champions. Surely at some point I would also want to jump onto the field (laughs).
Next week you start a new adventure as coach of Gulf. How do you face it?
With enthusiasm and motivation. Very eager to start and to finish my training with the Pro license. It will depend on the players I have, but I want to be myself. Because of my way of seeing football and everything I have lived through, I would like my teams to be protagonists with the ball.
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