Spain gave its football team a heroes' welcome yesterday with up to a million people filling the streets for a red and gold fiesta after their World Cup triumph over the Netherlands.
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 yesterday 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 had been waiting for hours to cheer the team on from the pavements and road.
Having landed at Madrid's Barajas airport at around 1500 local time 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 just before 1800.
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."
Prime Minister Zapatero singled out Iniesta, who scored the winner on Sunday, for praise, saying there was no better role model for youths.
"He represents like no one else good football and human qualities. I want to make a special mention of somebody who yesterday remembered someone who is no longer with us when he scored the winning goal," Zapatero said during a reception for the Spanish squad at his official residence.
"There is no better role model for for our youths, given his talent and personal qualities. Thank you Iniesta for remembering Dani yesterday during an unforgettable day for Spain."
Zapatero was referring there to the incident immediately after Iniesta scored his extra-time goal, when the 26-year-old took off his blue Spain jersey to reveal a white T-shirt bearing the message: "Dani Jarque: always with us".
The European and world champions then boarded an open-top bus at around 2000 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.