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The King congratulated the Spanish national soccer team this Monday for an "epic triumph" in the World Cup, an "odyssey" in which a "solidary and generous" team, which acted as "one unit," won the championship with grit and endurance for all of Spain.
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With these words, accompanied by the Queen, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía, the King congratulated all the players in the gardens of the Zarzuela Palace, where the team begins its official celebrations for the world champion title: "You come back tired, but what a rich kind of tiredness," he told them.
Just as they did two years ago, when the King and Queen and their daughters also received the team after they conquered the European Championship for the fourth time in their history, the newly crowned world champions were received in the audience hall of the Royal Palace and, subsequently, went out into the garden to take the official photo.
The expedition, led by the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Rafael Louzán, and the coach, Luis de la Fuente, arrived half an hour late to the Zarzuela Palace, after the plane on which they traveled from New York also landed an hour and a half later than planned.
After greeting the King and Queen and their daughters in the audience hall, they went out to the gardens of the Zarzuela Palace to pose for the official photograph, together with the Minister of Education and Sports, Milagros Tolón, and the president of the Higher Council of Sports, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes.
Before meeting with the King and Queen and their daughters, the team had already been honored by the employees of the Zarzuela, who gathered at the entrance of the palace to form an honor guard for the players who brought the World Cup to Spain, the second of these trophies achieved by Spain after the one won in South Africa 2010.
The workers, including members of the Royal Guard stationed at the Zarzuela Palace, also attended the speech, chanting "Champions, champions!" and cheers for Spain beforehand.
"You have been united: a team, solidary, generous"
In the garden, they listened to the words addressed to the team by the King, with which he acknowledged that the road to victory had been long, that the players had suffered, returned "somewhat bruised" and also faced criticism, "now vanished," but "what is all that compared to the joy of bringing the cup home?" he asked.
He praised the team's play, its technique, its control and dominance of the field, "combining head and heart, armed with patience without despairing and being faithful" to their style.
"You have been united, a team, solidary, generous, and you also won with gallantry; you will carry those two stars forever," said Felipe VI, convinced that they are "a stellar and legendary group" for the history of Spanish soccer.
The King did not forget that Spain is a two-time world champion, since the women's team won the 2023 World Cup.
If when the team plays, Spain plays, the King assured that the victory also belongs to the whole country and encouraged the players to enjoy every second, every look, and every smile that they will receive starting today.
The World Cup trophy, which Infanta Sofía also held for a while, wearing, just like her sister, Princess Leonor, the white team jersey, was also held yesterday by Felipe VI at the New York/New Jersey stadium where the Spanish team defeated Argentina 1-0.
This Sunday was the first occasion on which the four members of the royal family officially attended a men's Spanish national team soccer match together.
After the Zarzuela, 'La Roja' continues its journey, first at the Moncloa Palace, where Pedro Sánchez is receiving them, and then through the streets of Madrid until ending at the Plaza de Cibeles, celebrating the triumph with the fans. EFE
[Publicidad]