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Spain in black and white

is a Spain
full of suffering,

it's coming out of a war.
It's a Spain with problems.

The Spanish
national soccer team

couldn't feel
like others either.

Because everyone else
looked at Spain

as a second class country.

The international
isolation can be seen.

Spanish soccer
still isn't up to the level

of other countries.

They won Euros once,

in a showing
that was full of patriotism,

after their history with Russia.

Everyone was
lively and happy.

Spain has the European
Championship in its hands.

It helped us
give like a kick

of pride to Spanish fans
and Spanish soccer.

They made it to big tournaments
with no hope,

and the country didn't feel
like they were let down.

They found it normal.

That was our place in the world.

I remember the Spanish team
when I was young,

it was like vulgar.

The pass, the goal,

we're Spanish,
we can handle anything.

Spanish soccer was fury,

by the claws,
impetus, bravery.

The pride, the effort,
the ability to sacrifice,

as opposed to
the absence of talent,

the absence of technique.

I remember being
in the dining room,

eating pistachios with my dad,

watching us lose
to Romania, to Yugoslavia.

We remembered
the Spanish team's goals,

as goals that didn't exist.

Cardeñosa's miss,

Michel's shot that hit
the keeper's boot

and the ref ruled a no goal.

Julio Salinas's goal
against Italy.

All goals that never happened.

We lost and lost,
until losing the final.

IN 1996 IKER CASILLAS JOINED
THE JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM

How has your experience been?

Honestly, it's been great,

I don't think
I'll ever forget it.

And I hope it helps me,

if God wants me to play

in the future.
Same with them, right?

The first time I saw Iker,
be Iker, he was 16.

In a European championship

we won, the sub-16
European Championship.

And he stopped a penalty shot
in the final.

My first memory with the sub-15
team, in this case,

it was a call-up we had

to Real Madrid's
Antigua Ciudad Deportiva.

I had been playing well
at the lower levels.

And when I got the letter
from the national team

I was nervous,
but really excited.

Because it was like
starting to fulfill my dream.

Coinciding, with Xavi Hernández.

The first time I saw
Xavi play, it was amazing.

Seeing his class
being such a small player.

He was one of the most exquisite
soccer players I've ever seen.

I met Iker on the sub-17 team.

We had chemistry,
a great connection.

That feeling of,
"I like this guy."

He's quick, smart,
and that's how we connected.

We laughed,
we talked about everything.

And we always had anecdotes,
experiences,

we had a good time.

He played for Madrid,
he was Madrid to the bone.

And I've been Barcelona
my whole life.

Each of us were
very true to our team.

I'm sure he celebrated
when Madrid lost.

When we talked about
the top Madrid team,

before we were at that level.

We got together
at the sub-20 World Cup,

and I noticed
his winning attitude.

So from there,

we had a synergy.
Of that winning attitude.

Every competition we were in,
we wanted to win.

We won the sub-20 World Cup,
and that changed everything.

Xavi and Casillas
are the start,

but without Puyol's courage,
it would've been impossible.

In our generation,
in the lower levels,

lots of players had won
important competitions.

They invested in soccer
and the players

who came out were prepared
for the highest level.

Iniesta, he passes to Torres.

We were lucky

that right behind us
were players

who were also making a name
at the lower levels.

Namely Fernando Torres, Iniesta.

I remember debuting
on the sub-16 with Iniesta,

we always played together,
since we debuted.

And at those levels
we almost always won.

The national team
at the lower levels

always won titles.

It was a matter of time
before the senior team

did the same thing.

EURO 2004 PORTUGAL

As always,
these are quality players,

the group was easy,

but Spain has had trouble.

It's Spain's worst qualification

since Euros in 1988.

There's no reason for this.

Like always, we made it
and couldn't win the final.

The Spanish Football Federation

has sought consensus
in Spanish soccer,

to choose a manager.

And experience has won.

The Manager
with the longest history.

My first reaction when
I heard on the radio

that Luis was going to be
in charge,

I can't describe it,
it wasn't joy.

It wasn't joy,
obviously it wasn't sadness.

It's knowing he'll be demanding.

And pretty much knowing

that we'll be successful,

but also that there would be
tremendous change,

as far as what I knew
as the national team

up to that point.

Soccer doesn't have
a past or a future,

it has a present.

And it's win, win, win, win,

then win again and again
and win again,

and win, win, win.

Want me to go on
for a half-hour?

That's soccer.

I always say
he was a misunderstood genius,

because at that time,
he wasn't recognized.

He had a long career,

but he hadn't had
much success.

Luis Aragonés needed
that cherry on top,

to end his career.

And he chose the most difficult,
doing it with the national team,

which had never won.

And being who he is,
he accepted the challenge.

Luis wants
the big one for Spain,

to wrap up his career
in style.

Winning something with Spain,
for me it would be,

I would retire
from my sports career,

as a coach and manager.

With something important.

They changed coaches
and we had Luis Aragonés.

And the first two games,
I wasn't called up,

but there are more opportunities
I started playing well

and was called up
for the third game.

I arrived at the hotel and
the first thing he says to me,

"You must've thought, why
doesn't this old son of a bitch

call me up, right?"

Damn! That was our introduction.

No hi, no...

No way...

"No, sir, how could I know
what you were thinking."

"You're a son of a bitch,
etc..."

First thing, "Go upstairs
and we'll talk."

That first feeling.

He has character,

there were incidents
like with Romario,

whom he ordered to look him
directly in the eye,

or with Eto'o, whom he shook
by the collar.

After a game,
he came into the locker,

let's say a little heated,

and said,

"Kid, why are you so upset?"

And I said, "Nothing,

it's just that
I didn't play much

and I wanted to play more."

He grabbed me,
lifted me up against the wall,

and said, "Who provided
the assist for the second goal?"

And I said, "I did,"
and he said, "You did!"

"You're the best at assists
in this country!"

"And that's all I want
from you!"

"To play the way you know..."
Anyway, he talked to me...

I'm sure he was diplomatic
at home.

As far as threats,
taking off his glasses,

you and me,
tons of times.

But he was able to fight
with a player,

then give him a hug
and go out to dinner.

We really connected with him.

Because he was tough,

but endearing.

He gave serious speeches,

but also broke your heart
with his sayings.

He always had a funny comment,

he had a great sense of humor.

And I remember he told me

that he put on
his leather jacket,

got on his motorcycle,
put on his helmet and left.

So no one would recognize him.

He made his tributes,
like everyone.

When I made the national team,

he was betting
on younger players,

in my case I was only 18,

like we said in my town,

"He hasn't even played
with a flashlight."

Let's go, let's go! Set it up!

He could see it.
A generational change,

not excluding the veterans,

but starting to combine,

seeing when to mix us,

and consolidate as a group

with a goal in front of us
for the future.

For Luis, the goal
was to have, from the first day,

a national team
that could be champions.

I'm thinking 24 hours a day,

even when I'm sleeping,

sometimes I wake up
kicking a ball.

It's 24/7.

Right from the start
he gets it in your head

that we're going to be
world champions.

And when he said that,
we looked at each other...

And we thought,
"This guy's crazy."

He had a plan
and he kept to it religiously.

And he let you know

at all times,
down to every detail.

The goal is
to go out and compete,

to win without hangups.

He bets on something new,

something Spain
had never done.

It was playing with players
who weren't very tall or strong,

compared to others.

If you watched a game
between Spain and England,

or Spain and Germany,

it looked like men against boys.

Soccer at that time

wasn't so much about talent,

about possession,

it was about headers

and being physically stronger.

Smaller players
started showing up,

who weren't used much
at that time,

especially in the midfield.

You started to see
Cesc, Xavi, Iniesta.

He trusted us,

when we didn't even
trust ourselves.

I remember his words,

he said,
"If I don't win

with this team,
I'm a shitty manager."

The manager gave us confidence,

he had faith in us.

He gave power
to a younger generation.

When Luis Aragonés
took over the team,

the team hierarchy

was much more vertical.

There were two players
or three leaders,

and everything was done
around those players.

The previous generation,
which was Cañizares,

Raúl, Míchel, Morientes.

They were examples for everyone

on the team,
they were amazing players.

The most relevant, most
important player at the time

was Raúl, without a doubt.

There were two important figures
in the locker room.

One was Luis Aragonés,
the other was Raúl.

He's a player with a lot
of weight, a lot of strength.

The relationship,
sometimes it's good,

and at a point it becomes
a power surge.

Luis started thinking
about changing Raúl's role.

He's no longer
a surefire starter.

And that complicates

the relationship,
it complicates it.

2006 WORLD CUP GERMANY

He left Raúl on the bench
in the first game,

and you could see
a bit of a debate.

The conflict came about
because at one point

Raúl had a knee injury
and Luis feels like

he's doing him a favor,

including Raúl
in those conditions.

But Raúl felt like he was

a surefire starter,
like he always had been.

So I think that's when
there was some friction.

That goal from Zidane

meant Spain's elimination
from the World Cup.

France goes to the
quarterfinals, winning 3-1.

From there I think

the relationship deteriorated,
there's a tension,

and at one point Luis decides,
either Raúl or Luis.

Until today, he had never
left Raúl off.

You can argue among yourselves
and think what you want, but...

for better or worse,
I'm the manager.

Little by little
he understood

that maybe he had to do
something different.

We had gone
to many World Cups and Euros

with that style,
with that type of player,

and maybe he decided
or understood

that it was best to change.

It's often best
to start from scratch,

to make a transition
with players you need,

who are the pillars of the team.

But you need them
to understand there's a change.

And he understood that to win,
he had to make changes.

Raúl's last game
was against Northern Ireland,

where he had a confrontation

with Luis Aragonés.

They were both confrontational,

they both had
a lot of personality.

But there are things
you just can't talk about.

Things that should remain
in the locker room.

I think that Luis Aragonés

is one of the bravest people

I've met in soccer.

Because leaving Raúl off
at that time,

he knew the repercussions.

OUT!

We went to Palmas,
and we went to Oviedo

and we went to Sevilla,

wherever we went, Raúl
was the topic of conversation.

RAUL, NATIONAL TEAM!

That made the press

go after Luis Aragonés.

A sector of the Madrid press
didn't understand.

They thought Luis
had gone crazy

and that, without Raúl,

it was impossible
for Spain to win anything.

MADRID FANS PREPARE
PRO-RAUL, ANTI-LUIS PROTESTS

I think it's important
to put into context

what Raúl meant for the team,

for the whole country.

For me he is

perhaps the best
Spanish player ever.

Him not being on the team
was like government news.

Raúl, Raúl, Raúl!

The field we played on in Spain

was a hostile environment
for us.

Actually, the last games
before going to Euros,

we played in Spain
to lots of whistling.

I remember a game we played
against Argentina in Murcia,

we won 2-1.

And the whole stadium was
against us, the whole stadium.

I remember arriving in Málaga
with him on the train,

there were 2,000 people
hurling insults.

Raúl, Raúl!

And those were
campaigns orchestrated

by the press

and some very important
journalists in this country.

Raúl denies
that anyone from his circle

organized that reception

at the national team's
last game.

Luis Aragonés hasn't called him
up since September 2006,

when they lost to Ireland.

People who know me,

know that I'm not involved.

I have a lot of respect
for the manager.

I never said Raúl
organized this.

You say it,
because you want to.

And because you're
obviously against Luis,

but I never said that.

I said it was organized.

And I've told that to you,

I'm telling you now,

and I've told Raúl.

NATIONAL TEAM OF MARTYRS

After Raúl left
the national team,

we played Sweden
and we lost.

And Raúl wasn't there,

it wasn't Raúl's fault
it was Luis's fault.

So the shovel is
for Luis Aragonés.

You're right,

it has been underwhelming.

And that made things
much more complicated.

Because people wanted Luis
to leave the team.

Luis Aragonés said that

if Spain failed
in the World Cup in Germany,

he would leave.

Spain failed
in the World Cup in Germany,

because they didn't achieve
their goals,

and he didn't leave.

I sincerely think

that Luis's time to leave
has come.

From 2006 to 2008,

everyone wanted Luis's head.

At one point it seemed like

all Luis did was lose.

For weeks, for months we lived

with the feeling that Luis
was leaving

and we were leaving with him,
because of Raúl.

He had a rough time personally.

At two or three times he was
about to leave.

I don't think
he took into account

the media attention
he was suffering,

especially regarding his family.

Mister, did you expect
this reception?

No, I didn't.

I didn't expect it
but it's not unexpected.

People want you
to remain manager.

Relax, we'll talk about it soon.

Do you like that the fans
are behind you?

Of course I like it,
everyone likes that.

-OK.
-Thank you, Mister.

It was rough for him.

When we saw,
all us players,

that the press was against
the manager,

and the manager faced them,
he was honest and brave,

the whole group got the message,

and we did this.

Amazing bonding.

The group strengthened.

We're in this situation
together,

and we can feel the pressure
and get carried away.

or we can move ahead,
and prove everyone wrong.

There was only one way to become

the people's team.

And that was winning.

DENMARK-SPAIN
EUROS 2008 CLASSIFICATION

I think
La Roja was born in Denmark.

We made 20 or 25 passes

ending in a goal by Ramos
over the keeper.

We had the opportunity,
after a really long possession

where I ended with the ball,
and I finished

with a Pikachu...

Good thing it ended with a goal.

And after that,
in Denmark,

we beat Europe's best.

It was no longer Spain,
testosterone, fury, no.

We liked to have fun,
pass the ball, score goals.

And that's what
Luis Aragonés bet on.

Luis said,
"You're the best at this."

In association, in technique,

in tactical intelligence,
and that was the key for me.

We can't compete
with physical force,

and he said we would compete
playing soccer.

He gave me all the power.

And being 24, 25 years old,

having him trust me so much,

I had to return the favor.

We had created
a new model of playing,

new players,
we had all the tools possible.

All that was missing

was making the players believe
that they could win.

SPAIN WON THANKS TO XAVI'S GOAL,

BUT STILL HAVEN'T SOLVED
THEIR PROBLEMS

The last friendly, before
going to Austria, we won 1-0.

But the feeling
in the papers

was that we couldn't score,
that our defense was poor,

that the team wasn't together.

SPAIN WAS LAZY THE FIRST HOUR,
WAKING UP LATE FOR XAVI'S GOAL

They were really hard
on Luis Aragonés.

And I had the feeling
that those around the team

didn't want things to go well.

Just to show the world
that Luis made a mistake.

Greetings from
Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck,

where the Euro start
for the Spanish team.

As they face
the Russian national team.

Hey, listen to me,

the time has come.

We've been dragged
through the mud.

Let's show them,

let's show them.

And when I'm tired,
I raise my hand

and someone else comes in.

-Let's go!
-Let's go!

We all knew
that we were good players,

that we had a good group
around us,

but maybe we couldn't accept

that we could be winners.

And it started with Euros.

That's where
we had to show up.

And that first game
against Russia...

The team was in tune.

What Luis Aragonés
incorporated,

which made more noise,
even just the number,

Was switching out Raúl,
for "Guaje," for Villa.

Fábregas, passes to Villa.
There's the Asturian.

And "Guaje" at first,
he carried a heavy load,

that generational change.

"Guaje" did his thing
and started to believe,

and he started doing
what he knew how to do,

which was score goals.

-Go, Villa!
-Villa! Villa! Villa!

-Goal!
-Goal!

I felt like we could go far.

Obviously winning would be hard.

Let's go!

We had that
psychological block

of the quarterfinals.

And we played Italy.

Our rival.

The Azzurra haven't lost
to Spain for 30 years.

It was impossible
to beat Italy.

They had never beaten Italy.

They always lost,
something always happened.

Italy beat us years earlier,

with Baggio's goal,

Luis Enrique's elbow.

They were our nemesis.

The game starts,
the ball is in play!

-Let's go!
-Possession for Spain.

Let's go, Spain!

Here goes Senna,
what a shot!

-Buffon!
-It's over.

Ninety minutes
and it's tied at zero!

When we went
to extra time,

you start thinking
those negative thoughts,

"This is the end for us,

we're going home,
it's Italy."

And it goes to PKs.

And I saw the Italians,

they had the feeling
that they were going through.

And we felt
this great tension.

I remember those
taking penalty shots

we scared, they were afraid.

I usually took penalties
and I said,

"I must be one of the five."

And Luis came over
and said,

"The first PK
is the hardest.

If we make the first one,
that will be huge,

you're taking it, because
you're the best at PKs."

I was like,
"Shit, that's heavy, Luis."

Villa with his right.
Buffon dives.

-Villa's shot.
-Goal!

-Goal!
-Let's go! Goal!

Let's go, Pepe!

Camoranesi shoots!

Goal. Shot by the kid.

Let's go, Güiza,
right past Buffon.

The shot
by Güiza with his right!

Shot from Di Natale!

Iker!

-Nice!
-He stops it!

I hadn't shot a penalty
since the youth team.

Since I was 15,
I took them with Barça.

And Mister starts saying

number one, number two,
number three, number four,

and he says,
"Cesc shoots fifth."

Number five, I was like,
"Damn."

I didn't expect that.

You have that pressure of
if you score,

you break
an important curse.

Quarterfinals, against Italy.

I wanted to shoot to my left,
to Buffon's right, over him.

And the last minute,
where I have to shoot,

I saw him dive
a little earlier than normal,

so I went for the mythical
left to right,

it was perfect...

Shoots with his right!
Goal!

Goal!

A 24-year drought!

And Spain is back
in the Euro semifinals!

We were all aware

that we had a good group
around us,

but maybe we didn't have in mind

that we could be winners.

And that's what changed it
for all of us.

I noticed that when
we won that game,

it was like taking
that 50-pound weight

off our shoulders.

And...

We were ready for anything.

People take a breath and say,
Spain made it.

I think that's where we got rid

of those hangups
as a country.

And we didn't change history
by winning in penalties,

history was all mental,
we changed it thanks to him.

One, two, three,
win, win, win!

Let's go!

After the Italy game,
a lot changed,

in terms of mentality,
in terms of confidence.

We became a different team.

We played well against Russia,

one of our best games,
I think,

we played as a national team.

We put the small guys
together again,

I think the second half

was some of the most fun
I've had on a soccer pitch.

LEAVING EVEN THOUGH
HE'S A CHAMPION

LUIS ARAGONÉS:

"I'M LEAVING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T
DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE ME STAY"

In the press,

they started talking about
Luis not staying on,

he had already told us.

-Guys...
-Luis told us,

when Euros were over
he was leaving

and he wanted to leave
a champion.

No one remembers the runner up.

They think that's how we are,
that we party.

We party and win.

And since we're better,
we're going to win.

By Euros 2008, Luis Aragonés

had a rocky relationship

with the Spanish
Football Federation.

He said he didn't see
confidence in the president,

and of course that surprised
all of us

Like, after winning Euros,
what's going on?

The manager won Euros,

I think that gives him
the right to stay on.

We were so excited

and so happy,
enjoying the moment,

that we never talked about
what would happen next.

Because he made sure

that Euros
were the most important thing.

And the best gift
we could give him

was him being the first manager

to win Spain's first Euros,

after so much time,

when nobody believed in us.

When he came to Atlético
as manager,

I was 17,

and that relationship
was like a sports father

and son.

The day of the final,
in the locker room,

there were moments
you remember your whole life.

We were in the hallway

and he pushed me
against the wall,

he had done that
once at Atlético, but...

But that day there was something
different in his eyes.

And he said it was my moment,
that it was our moment,

that we were going to be
champions.

And that I was going to score
two goals.

I felt in that moment,
that it was a goodbye.

And we had to give him
a happy ending.

SPAIN-GERMANY
FINAL

Don't miss any details.

Open your eyes.

Because this is historic.

Spain in the final of Euros!

Forty-four years of waiting,

whole generations
of soccer players

who tried
and didn't make it.

Millions of Spaniards
waiting for this moment.

Waiting for exactly this moment.

This is our moment.

Go, Spain!

The game is underway!

In the final of Euros,

the first 10 minutes
were a disaster.

They came at us from
all directions, it was like,

"This could get ugly."

But one moment
changed the whole game,

Fernando's header.

It was a game
where we said,

"We know how to compete,
we're young,

we play different,
but we know how to compete."

What a nice pass for Torres,

and Torres fights,
Torres shoots!

Goal!

Goal!

Goal, goal, goal!

Goal!

For Spain!

Goal!

For "El Niño"!

-Spain wins!
-It's over!

Champions of Europe!

We are champions!

That was the moment,

when that whole process
was worth it,

when we could
say to the world,

that we weren't wrong.
That Luis wasn't crazy.

And that Spain had won.

And that the fans had
a new team to cheer for.

Because that's how we felt,

because there weren't fans
of the teams coming to see us,

they came to see
the national team,

because it was
the national team.

I think what you see
in that celebration,

was a group of friends.

First, I was happy
for Luis Aragonés,

because he deserved it.

And when you win,

and you see him win, you say,
"Wow, life is fair,

soccer has been fair
to Luis Aragonés."

I remember after winning
Euros 2008,

I couldn't sleep for two nights.

Let's go!

I felt like I hadn't gone out
for 10 years.

I was full of life,
I could handle anything.

Tell me!

Tell you?

Tell me what happened.

Let's go, guys, let's go!

Just remember,
that this Euros trophy is yours.

We wanted to bring happiness
to Spanish soccer.

For everyone around us,

everyone, we deserve it.

Come on! Long live Spain!

When Xavi
grabbed the microphone,

and says, "Long live Spain,"

it was like catharsis.

Like... Damn!

A Catalan through and though,
saying long live Spain.

It is approved
with 120 votes in favor

and 15 against.

Catalonia votes to reform
their autonomous status,

after almost two years
of debates.

For us it's another step,

but not toward another statute,

but rather a legitimate goal,

toward a state, our state.

While Spain is enjoying

these great
soccer triumphs,

the independence movement
is growing.

Under the slogan,
"We are one nation,

we want our own state."

Thousands of people are out
in the streets of Barcelona.

I want my children to see
an independent Catalonia.

Someone says Spain
is determined

to live together or apart.

Because it's one place,

very different
and very heterogeneous

in terms of political
and social realities.

Among them, Catalonia
has a lot of personality,

it is a force
within Spain.

It fights with Madrid,

like two centers of power

representing different views.

I had to defend myself
to my friends,

because I did
a especial program

on TV and they said,

"How could you do a program
on the Spanish national team?

The Red Square

to watch all the games
of the national team.

You're Catalan, you can't follow
the Spanish national team,

if you're Basque you can't
follow the national team.

These guys didn't care.

There were Catalan guys
playing on the national team.

Or Basques celebrating
the team's victory.

Part of the euphoria

has to do with letting loose,

at that difficult time
economically and socially,

that the country
was going through.

Earthquake on Wall Street

and the banking panorama
of the United States.

Lehman Brothers,

the fourth largest investment
bank in the world,

with 25,000 employees,
declares bankruptcy.

Lehman Brothers folds,
the recession,

the crisis, the adjustments,
the firings.

The eviction!

We're going to stop it!

The social, economic
and labor drama

at the time causes

Spain to achieve
this amazing success.

So the national team becomes,
on the one hand,

a great breath of relief,

for a country that was socially
and occupationally anxious,

and at the same time,
a beacon of unity.

Of national patriotism.

Coinciding with a very acute
economic crisis.

Euros 2008 had two effects,
one is that now

the national team
is of interest to the country,

and two, the whole country
focuses on the national team.

Which before was marginal.

I had a friend, Fabio Cannavaro,

and after winning Euros,
he slapped my leg and said,

"Sure, that's great,

but you won't know
what it feels like

to lift a trophy

until you win the World Cup."

And I just looked at him like,

is this guy an asshole?

We were all aware
that Spain had won Euros.

We had never even been close
to a World Cup.

As a kid I looked at
that beautiful gold trophy,

in the hands of people

in Brazilian or German uniforms.

You look around,
and who is our...

Our icon?

It wasn't clear,

there was no one
who stood out from the rest.

And that can be good
or it can be bad.

Knowing that without that player

who stands out,
we could do it.

We would have loved it,
we would have enjoyed it.

Actually,
we wanted Luis to continue,

because he had earned it.

So we moved from that pain
of him not continuing,

to the uncertainty of,
who will be next?

Will we be able to do
what we've been doing?

Vicente del Bosque,
at that time was

one of the most decorated
managers in the world.

He was coming off
an amazing run

with Real Madrid,

and was without a team
at that time.

And the technical director of
the Spanish Football Federation

offered him the role of manager
and he accepted.

It wasn't an easy position,
because he was taking over

from the only manager
to win a title with Spain,

in the modern era.

Taking over a team that's won
is the hardest thing in soccer,

because of the expectations.

When it changed
from Luis Aragonés to Vicente,

at first I was let down.

Obviously when
Vicente del Bosque arrived,

we were all wondering,

what will he do?
How will he manage the group?

If you ask what my plan was,

it was to support everything
that happened in that era.

We had a recipe that worked,

which we wanted
to keep improving.

That was it.

Vicente from the start
was very clear with us,

he said we were winners.

He had his ideas but
wouldn't mess with the essence.

The expectation when

a manager comes in like
Vicente del Bosque,

who came from Real Madrid,

everyone thought

the selection
would reflect that.

I couldn't erase
36 years of my life,

with Real Madrid.

To the contrary,
I'm proud.

But we have to have
the best players,

regardless
of where they were born,

what uniform they wore,

we had to set that example.

We couldn't have any doubts.

And to everyone's
disappointment,

he called up more players
from Barça

than any of his predecessors.

I was surprised
when I got called up

for the national team.

I had just joined my club,

but I was playing well,

I was getting minutes.

And when the delegate
confirmed it,

that was a very special moment.

I'll always remember that,

and it was also the first cap

for my teammate Gerard.

I was a starter right away,

if things didn't go well,
they could easily say,

well, there have been changes,

after winning Euros,
and it didn't work.

In that way it was hard,
but it was a time in my life

where I was coming off
winning the treble

with Barça in my first year,

so I thought, "Another
challenge, let's face it head on

and I'm sure it will end well."

He had Puyol by his side,
later on he had Sergio Ramos.

We've always
relied heavily on them,

to ensure a good atmosphere
on the team.

Piqué and Ramos
are totally different.

One is a rich Catalan,

the other is
an Andalusian street kid.

So that's what
we were talking about.

Who's more handsome,
Piqué or you?

We each have our charm.

At least it's good stuff.

We knew
they would try to pit us

as me, from Madrid,
against the Catalans,

and the Catalans,
in this case Piqué,

who was held up

as the flag of Barça
against the Madrid players.

I think that sports
and politics,

even if you try
to separate them,

they're always used.

It's logical, Barça

has always been

very representative
of Catalonia,

while Madrid has been
the image for Spain.

And being part
of one club and the other,

then bringing us together
on the national team,

they always want to
involve you

or use you
in the political environment.

Yes, we had more doubts
as Catalan players,

because we faced more pressure.

There were rumors about
our socks covering the flag.

XAVI AND PUYOL AT CENTER
OF SOCK CONTROVERSY

But it wasn't even
the Spanish flag,

it was the Adidas symbol,

but they reported that
just to create controversy.

I feel patriotic,

and I'm proud to belong
to my country, Spain.

I'm tired of traveling
around the United States,

and I'm tired of seeing
the U.S. flag

over all the houses,

a movie ends and you see
the U.S. flag.

And people,
I think the problem is,

they try to make the flag

into a Franco issue.

The flag was something
we identified,

incorrectly I think,
in this country,

we've always linked it
to an ideology.

Spain has an old dispute

with the Spanish flag,
because we have to remember

there was a civil war,
almost a million died.

It fractured the country in two.

On part of the country
carried the flag,

and the other part of the
country used a different flag.

Today,

captive and unarmed
the Red Army

has reached the national troops,

their last military targets.

The war has ended.

When a country has a civil war,

it's not the same as having
a war with another country.

If you're defending against
a German invasion,

from the right, from the left,
communists, not communists,

it's us against them.

But when a country divides,
a civil war,

brothers against brothers,
cousins against cousins

and uncles against uncles,

it takes a long time
to readjust afterward.

It fractures things
within that society.

And it takes a long time
to heal.

That's how it is.

I met Andrés Iniesta

at the sub-17 World Cup
in Trinidad and Tobago.

I said Xavi was
an amazing player,

that I had never seen
anything like that,

and people said, "But there's
someone even better,

his name is Iniesta."

And I met this kid
who was totally normal,

didn't speak much,

very reserved,
incredibly reserved.

Andrés the question is,
what do you want

to be when you're older?

It's clear, right?

Yes, a soccer player,

with a good career.

Andrés was a person who,

at first, was very introverted,

he kept to himself.

That's what happened to Andrés,

he kept to himself
and didn't express himself.

Until he exploded.

It was
a Champions League game,

I injured my quadriceps,

maybe it was one
of the first that year.

It was a serious injury,

it kept us off the field

for about two months,
without playing.

Andrés Iniesta.

Today medical tests
have confirmed

an injury to the inside

of the right leg, which means

six to eight weeks
of recovery.

It's a big loss,

so unless there are
any questions about that,

the rest will be
about our current lineup.

His way of expressing himself
is playing soccer,

when we can't do that,
he gets sad.

Because you can miss out
on the biggest event,

it could be related
to what you like most,

which is the World Cup

and the possibility of being
world champion.

So that anxiety,

when it's on the horizon
and you're not well,

you might not make it,
it's even worse.

It's an injury,

but it's so close
to the World Cup.

Which was all of their dream.

ONE MONTH TO THE WORLD CUP

LIVERPOOL

When I got hurt
against Benfica,

when I got the diagnosis,

all I thought about
was the World Cup.

I calculated the time,
I added and subtracted days,

recovery time,
and it didn't add up.

It should have been
eight, nine, ten weeks.

I only had four.

WITHOUT "EL NIÑO" AGAIN

The last thing I remember
before the anesthesia,

was saying, "Doctor, please
don't give me stitches,

if it's broken, take it out,

and if you have to
take it all out, do it."

But in one month
I have to be at the World Cup.

TORRES IN QUIRON CLINIC
IN BARCELONA

We know the risks
of a speedy recovery,

forcing things
for the World Cup,

which is maximum effort
in a short period of time.

Where there are many games,

and it's likely that afterward

you won't be 100%

for a long time.

I risked my future.

But I wanted to be
with my teammates,

I wanted to be World Champion.

So we put in the work,
not knowing if I'd be called up.

A second important
injury to Andrés,

he left the field,
he had injured himself,

he almost started crying
right there in the corner,

when it happened.

When we went
into the locker room,

he felt worse,

he thought,
"I won't be able to recover,

it's too close
to these important dates."

When you have a dream,
a goal to reach,

and on that journey,

things don't go
according to plan,

obviously it's hard to handle,

not just physically
but mentally.

DOUBTFUL: A. INIESTA, TORRES

WORLD CUP 2010 SELECTION

Midfielders:

Fábregas,

Xavi Hernández,

Iniesta.

During my recovery,

I never thought
I won't be ready.

I worked with that dream
of playing in the World Cup.

I risked everything
to be in the World Cup,

and I was going to be there.

Forwards:

David Silva,

Mata.

I remember the day
of the press conference,

that was the first day

I thought, "Yes or no?"

Pedro.

Fernando Torres.

But I made it.

2010 WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA

This afternoon Africa said
hello to the world.

And welcomed the largest
soccer party like this.

Soccer City in Johannesburg

has been an explosion
of color,

a spectacle where dance,

ethnic groups and African music

have played leading roles.

Over 1500 people onstage

paralyzed South Africa

and the rest of the world.

When we got to South Africa
we knew

that we were among
the favorites to win,

even though
we hadn't won before.

It's true, being a team
that's never won the World Cup

coming in as the favorite
or one of the favorites,

I think it's a lot of pressure.

And we saw that
in the first match.

The game is underway.

Iniesta through to Piqué.

Piqué dribbles!

What a block by Benaglio!

Shoot, Villa!
Villa centers it!

Villa shoots!

We shot 20, 25 times,

they barely knock on our door,
and off a long ball

they score.

Wow! Goal!

Goal Switzerland!

Monumental error
by Spain's defense!

What a letdown

for the Spanish team

out on the field.

Deception and defeat
in the first game

for the European champs
in the World Cup,

being favorites
hasn't gone well for Spain.

After losing to Switzerland,

the press gets pessimistic,

"They're going to lose again,

we're the best again
but we can never win."

LA ROJA AT THEIR WORST AGAINST
SWISS, WHO SLOWED THEIR FLOW

SAME OLD SPAIN

The first match stressed us out
for almost the whole World Cup.

That day with the error,
it was a very tough day.

We were all worried.

I remember the trip
to the pitch,

it was like a funeral.

We're talking about a team
that before games usually

played loud music
you couldn't avoid.

But that day they were silent.

SPAIN-HONDURAS
GROUP STAGE

Suazo!
It looks dangerous.

This could be it.
Penalty!

-He got him.
-He got him.

And...miss!

Damn!

We played much worse
than against Switzerland.

SPAIN 2 - 0 HONDURAS

I remember
going in the locker room,

saying, "Damn, we won,

but if we play like that
against Chile

we'll be out."

SPAIN-CHILE
GROUP STAGE

A good through ball for Torres.

Torres runs, Bravo comes out!

-Bravo is fast.
-The shot!

Villa shoots!
Goal, goal, goal, goal!

Goal! Goal!

What a beauty!

Sánchez plays it
for Millar,

in the semi-circle
Millar shoots, goal.

-Oh my.
-What a disaster.

Let's go, let's go!
You can make it!

Torres up and over!

At that time,
my head was saying,

"Don't leave anything
on the field,

because you'll regret it."

Everything it took to get there,

give it all, if it's 20 minutes,
play 20 minutes.

Whatever your knees will give.

If it breaks again, it breaks.

But if I was out there,
I had to play to the end.

And that's what happened.

Torres gets by Ponce,

Torres still up.

Torres in the box!

Sanchez helps
to close it off!

You feel it again,

I had liquid in my knee,
I couldn't bend it.

Playing two games
in three days,

after two operations
in three months

it complicates things.

SPAIN 2 - 1 CHILE

Come on, Iker!

What I miss most
about the World Cup,

is not having memories
with my teammates.

My memories from the World Cup
are being with Raúl Martínez

and Dr. Cota all day.

I've been asked
that question a lot,

was it worth it?

SPAIN-PORTUGAL
ROUND OF 16

In the round of 16, Portugal.

Portugal had a great team.

Obviously
we had to control Cristiano,

the long shots,
the fouls.

But we played our way
as a group, as a family.

You had that feeling that
even though they had Cristiano,

we were the better team.

And Xavi's pass goes long!

Cristiano, miss!

They had an amazing player,

and we had
an amazing team.

What a pass for Xavi.

-Villa shoots!
-Let's go!

He shoots! Goal, goal, goal!

Goal!

In the game against Portugal,

it was a message
that Spain is here,

they don't have a star,
but they have a team.

SPAIN 1 - 0 PORTUGAL

We organized a team
in which each player,

we were all stars
for our clubs,

but on the national team
we understood

it was a different situation.

No matter how well
I played with Liverpool,

I knew that the poster boy,
in quotes, was Iker,

there was no doubt.

And I accepted my role
from the beginning.

I've always said
riding the bench

is much harder
than being on the pitch.

The nerves are 100 times worse,

but if you really care...

SPAIN-PARAGUAY
QUARTERFINALS

Pepe is a guy who always
prepares for his matches.

He stands with me,
I'm changing, and he talks.

Two months earlier,

Cardozo scored
two PKs on me,

in the same spot.

His safety net,
in a tense match,

in a close match,

I think he'll shoot there.

I was like, what do I do?

Do I dive right
and not listen to Pepe,

what do I do? What do I think?

He's going to shoot
to my left like Pepe said.

t was a gesture that speaks
volumes, that I honor,

he pointed to me and...

I felt great in that moment.

Because I felt like
I had helped a little.

For us on the bench,
it was hard.

SPAIN 1 - 0 PARAGUAY

How does it feel
to stop a penalty shot

in a game like this?

I'm happy with
our teamwork, especially

not just those on the pitch
but those off the pitch.

For all the players on the bench
who might play fewer minutes.

And remembering Pepe Reina,
who is phenomenal,

and he told me
where to go,

so I may have stopped it,
but my teammate did too.

We couldn't have stars,
that wasn't allowed.

Each one of us had to accept
our role.

Whether starter or sub,
the team would work.

If the team worked,
we would all have our moment.

"El Guaje" is here, right?

And four of them here.

So these two...

have to come quick,
to stop them.

The play with Puyi

in the World Cup semifinal
against Germany,

he had been cooking it up
for a while.

We were analyzing Germany

and we saw strategic plays.

And when we saw
how Germany defends,

using a zone defense,

I remembered a play
we did with Barcelona.

We talked about it
before the game.

If you get me the ball,
they'll play zone, etc.

SPAIN-GERMANY
SEMIFINAL

So in those first corner kicks,

Xavi starts
taking them short.

I didn't understand.

And he was ripping me
during a dead ball,

saying, "Can't you see, máquina?

Can't you see?

It's time to put
the ball in the penalty area."

Put it on the penalty dot
and mark my words,

I'll score or a German player
will be in their goal.

But I'll give it everything.

First corner
of the second half,

I'll put it on the penalty dot.

To shut him up,
he was messing with me.

And that's what we did.

Xavi kicks it!

Goal!

Goal Puyol!

Goal! What a goal!

Goal Puyol!

Puyol we love you!

-Goal!
-Goal Puyol!

-Goal Puyol!
-Amazing goal.

Let's go!

Nice, nice.

The soccer world is in shock

after the death
of Daniel Jarque.

The death of Dani Jarque
was a bombshell

with great effect.

He was a teammate
since they were young,

they played together
on the national team.

They had
an important friendship.

SOCCER MOURNS FOR JARQUE

When you hear about that,

first, you don't believe it.

Then,

feelings of pain of course.

We were going through

a very complicated time.

And without a doubt,

that moment
really got to me...

So,

I got even more down
than I was.

A. INIESTA

The word depression appeared,

in a closed circle.

Medically, with the club,
with family.

He was thin,

he didn't have much feeling,

you worked his muscles
and they didn't improve.

A laziness
that wasn't normal for him.

We knew we had to look for
a professional solution,

turn to psychology.

At that moment no one,

or at least I didn't know
that it went deeper,

that it wasn't just an injury.

There was a mental aspect.

If we explain
what's going on,

that it's depression,

headlines will show up
in the papers,

saying, "Andrés Iniesta
Suffers Depression."

Talking about circumstances

like depression,
this stuff,

it's really serious stuff.

In elite sports,

we protect ourselves,
we don't show weakness,

because only eleven can play.

If it's not you,

someone else
will take your spot.

Going to the World Cup
was very important for Andrés,

it's a childhood dream.

The World Cup final,

featuring Spain!

Busquets, Xavi Alonso,

Xavi Hernández
in midfield,

Iniesta, Pedro
and "El Guaje" Villa.

You can hear the horns,

8:30,
time to start the game!

I think the plan
was to be true to our style.

We knew that
if we had possession,

and we moved the ball quickly,
they would suffer.

But we found ourselves

in a very physical game,
lots of fouling,

and I think that confused us,

it didn't help us.

I thought they would
attack more,

try to steal the ball
from us,

but it was the opposite.

They designed a war,

a war of kicks,
interruptions,

provocations.

They wanted to unhinge us.

Iniesta with the ball,
good movement by Iniesta.

Watch Iniesta.
Iniesta.

-Nice!
-Let's go!

Come on, run!

We need you, Iniesta.

Iniesta is active.

Touchline,
penalty!

That year
was a complicated time.

A tough period.

Some injuries piled up,

depression and anxiety.

Navas with it,

Navas going forward, but look
how Sneijder follows him,

hold on, Navas!

But I learned that
within each of us

is that strength

to get up again,

even if you fall 200,000 times.

Ball for Iniesta,
Iniesta the heel kick,

pass to Fábregas,
Fábregas to Navas,

Navas to Torres.

And that individually

we aren't much,

and we need to be surrounded
by people who love us.

The cross,
Torres with the cross.

Look at Fábregas!

Fábregas to Iniesta,
Iniesta shoots!

Goal!

Goal! Goal!

Goal!

Goal, goal, goal, goal!

Goal, goal, goal!

Andrés Iniesta!

Goal

for Spain!

Goal

Andrés Iniesta!

Spain one, Netherlands zero!

Thank you, guys!

Taking off my shirt

was like trying to pay homage,

in such a special moment.

When he showed
the shirt with Dani Jarque,

that shows Andrés's humanity.

World champions!

World champions!

SPAIN 1 - 0 NETHERLANDS

If anyone deserved to score
that goal, its was Andrés.

Maybe the person
who best represented

what we wanted to show
with that team,

the humility, the work,

overcoming negative situations

with normality and humility.

I think that embodied the team
for a long time.

I had a very clear dream,
and I followed it,

I assumed the risks.

And obviously
it brought the best thing

a soccer player can ask for,

holding the World Cup.

You saw Pelé, Dunga,
Taus, Maradona,

and then being up there
on the podium

and getting the world cup,

it's unthinkable.

I get goosebumps

thinking
that we're world champs.

And no one can take that away.

Having the whole country happy,
excited,

for me, with the reason

being that we did this,
it's amazing.

It was so hard
to unite the country

around something,
like winning the World Cup.

They celebrated in Euzkadi,

they celebrated in Catalonia,

in Andalusia and Galicia.

There was such joy,

we went out to the streets
with flags,

in Bilbao, in Catalonia
and nothing happened.

I found it so exciting.

A glorious day

in the history
not only of Spanish soccer,

but in Spain's history.

The flag played the role

that a flag should play,

of representing a collective,

and it left all of us
with that taste

of what things could be like.

It wasn't just
a symbol,

but still just a symbol.

A shared symbol.

In that moment
the leftists said,

"Damn, if I'm singing,
that makes me Spanish,"

or "I put on
the national team uniform."

This belongs to all of us.
It's for all of us.

And for a time,
it belonged to everyone.

And we could say,
without any connotation,

without criticism,

that, long live the Spanish team

and long live Spain.

Long live the Spanish team,

it's the representation
of my country.

It was so strange to see
everyone united and happy.

It was so nice.

It was so nice.

We had made history
for our country,

I think we knew
that we could make history,

not just for our country,
but for soccer in general.

And we started to think,

no one's won three in a row.

PELE'S BRAZIL

BECKENBAUER'S GERMANY

ZIDANE'S FRANCE

WON TWO INTERNATIONAL
TOURNAMENTS IN A ROW

NO TEAM HAD EVER WON
THREE TITLES IN A ROW

We had a unique
opportunity to do something

that no team had ever done.

Win three tournaments in a row,

the Euros, the World Cup,
and Euros again in 2012.

It was a good challenge.

Also for us to go down
in history in that way,

it was good motivation.

The problem is it was
through rose-colored glasses,

they won, the players
were small and good.

The players from Madrid

and Barça got along
amazingly.

And that's when
this guy shows up

who fills the Spanish team

with shit.

At the time
it was a slap in the face,

having Mourinho
come into our lives,

because we had a goal,

to win Euros 2012,

which would make us
the best team in history,

and he was a big stone
blocking our path,

a huge boulder.

The story of Mourinho coming in
and changing the team,

I don't fully agree that
it was him who changed it.

The team's history,
we changed it ourselves.

At that time Barcelona
was winning everything,

Madrid couldn't stand

Barcelona monopolizing
national titles,

even European titles.

So Madrid flexes

with Barça's kryptonite.

MOU, YOU'VE EARNED IT

Mou's main message

was to do whatever it took
to win.

F.C. BARCELONA - REAL MADRID
LA LIGA 2010-2011

18 MONTHS TO EUROS

Our first game against
Mourinho's Madrid

was the most we've
outclassed them

in a Barça-Madrid game
that I can remember.

There goes Iniesta,
Iniesta with Ramos.

Iniesta shoots!

The ball's on the line!
Xavi, goal, goal, goal!

It's true, that day
everything came together,

the result, the possession
by Barcelona,

our inability to steal the ball.

Everything accumulated.

Villa shoots, goal!

Goal David Villa!

It was the worst feeling
I've had on the pitch,

of feeling inferior.

Because we came in with
expectations of competing

and we didn't.

It was hard, very hard,
and I suffered.

THE 5-0 PARTY

Piqué's five to Mourinho
poured salt in the wound.

It was also the case, I don't
know if it's happened before,

we had four derbies
in like 25 days.

We played league,

Copa del Rey
and Champions League.

They were for titles.

So it's normal
that the intensity,

the nerves,
everything, increase.

There's this tension
in the derbies,

that I had never seen before.

Every Barça-Madrid game
in this country

became a mini war.

REAL MADRID - F.C. BARCELONA
LA LIGA 2010-2011

14 MONTHS TO EUROS

The next step for Madrid
with Mourinho

was competing

like the Netherlands
in the final against Spain.

A physical battle,

with interruptions,
fouls, arguing.

We talked to them on the pitch,
"Hey, what are you doing?"

Like they were possessed.

Not at all, for me we were
just being more aggressive,

we were intense in our play,
because that's how we played.

How could a club like Madrid

allow a manager
with those tactics?

Soccer is a sport of risks,

you're at your limit
with high RPMs,

and sometimes
you come in late,

you kick someone,
someone kicks you.

I've seen plenty of kicks
by Barça players,

but it was like
the only ones kicking

were us.

That excessive arguing
with the refs,

no one likes that.

One week later we had
the Copa del Rey final.

F.C. BARCELONA - REAL MADRID
COPA DEL REY FINAL

THROUGH TO THE FINAL,
LET'S GO REAL

We were surprised by
the Madrid players' attitude.

Iker looked
very distant,

I don't know if
Mourinho told him to or not,

but it bother me
and I didn't understand.

Distant? That was normal.

You want to win
for yourself too.

Each of us have to
do what's best for us.

In this case, with the club.

They were suffering
this bout of blindness,

like I don't care what you say,

I trust my manager,

because he said this
and I believe his message.

I'll defend my team,

I believe the ideas
of my team, my manager,

because we wanted to compete.

And we wanted
to be the best we could.

Mourinho understands
that friendship

among players
on the Spanish team

and F.C. Barcelona
harms Real Madrid.

Mou didn't like

us being friendly
with players after,

in quotes, they humiliated us,
beating us 3-0, 4-0.

He didn't believe in friendship

on the playing field or off.

I think that was the mindset

that bothered him seeing us

saying hi in the tunnel.

He convinced his players
of his message.

And convincing them
of his message,

they become like a cult.

Mourinho didn't change,
at any time,

anyone's personality.

I don't blame Mourinho
for my fouls at that time.

I think we're all responsible

for our words and actions.

There have always been
great differences

between Madrid and Barcelona.

There always have been
and always will be.

But there's always order.

I think
that they failed in that.

The poison came from outside.

The poison didn't come from us.

The poison came from outside.

We were always careful

to maintain
a good atmosphere.

But what we had was
a stale atmosphere.

It was the worst.

And the worst happened.

For five or six months,
for half a year,

we were in a tense situation.

They started having
poor attitudes.

When you get there,
there's a lot of tension,

they barely speak to each other,

staying with their teammates.

Talking to my guys at the table
and not to anyone else.

Like a cold war.
We were distant,

we gave one-word answers.

Like if they were
coming out of the elevator,

and you were going to eat,
trying not to cross paths.

Everyone in their area,
instead of being together,

like things had been before.

We weren't as...

as untied or close
to one another.

It was uncomfortable.

We had to concentrate,
tell them that this

was great, they were here
to play for their country,

and then you're looking for

what table to sit at.

Coming off
an international tournament

and everything had changed,
the atmosphere was so different,

you didn't feel like going,
when you used to love going.

There's a game
they lose in Italy,

that made alarms go off.

Because they were
no longer a team.

If half of the team
is against the other half,

it won't go well for the group,

as far as competing
and winning titles.

Before Euros, there was a risk

that the team
would self-collapse.

ITALY 2 - 1 SPAIN

Well, what an atmosphere,
Camp Nou is impressive.

Everything ready
to start the game.

That ball is put in play
by "El Guaje" Villa,

playing to Messi.

10 MONTHS TO EUROS

Marcelo,
that's a nasty ankle challenge!

Straight red for Marcelo!

There are two dust ups,
Casillas is there, Xavi,

Piqué and company,
the managers in the other one.

Casillas is talking
to Xavi Hernández!

These close friends
on the national team, arguing.

Their friendship has cooled off.

Alfredo, he's worried,

things won't be the same
on the Spanish national team.

The whole world
is watching this

and we're showing
an unfortunate image.

Everything we built
in just one day

with Luis Aragonés,
in 2006, was ruined.

And from there,
as captain, I saw

a bunch of things
I didn't like,

going beyond just soccer,

so I had to take action.

First talking to Xavi.

To Xavi...

We weren't on the same page
at first.

We laid it all out, everything.

He confronts me,
says we're acting weird,

that Piqué doing this
with his hand provoked them,

I told him they kicked us,
they stepped on us...

But in the end,
we came to an agreement,

that we were going to stop this,

that we weren't
being good examples.

The whole world was watching

to see if we'd self-destruct
on a soccer pitch.

And that saddens me, Iker.

Xavi told us
that they had talked.

And that at least Iker
thought that we had to

be united again.

So in the end
there was a before and after.

Between everyone...

Me with Madrid,

and Iker and everyone,
we tried to achieve

that harmony,

so everything would flow
naturally.

That move by Iker as captain,

I think we all appreciated it.

And it isn't a question
of me being the protagonist

or the savior or anything.

But I could tell that,

first off,
we were acting strange,

and secondly,

we were putting the national
team on the back burner,

which is very important.

We were letting
this opportunity slip away,

to make another Euros final

and leave our mark.

The rumor spread like wildfire
two hours before the match.

Casillas, world champion
and European champion,

would be a sub against Málaga.

His face is a poem.

I know Mourinho
didn't like that decision

between Xavi and Iker,

and maybe for
doing the right thing,

Iker ended up paying for it.

MOU WANTS A DIFFERENT CAPTAIN
ON THE PITCH

Iker was looked at differently
by Mourinho.

For not holding up the deal,
I don't know what they had,

whatever it was,

of hating these guys
even when on the national team.

Casillas was looked down upon
even by Real Madrid fans.

They thought of him
as a traitor.

Which is strange, because
he was the most dignified.

Calling someone to meet up
and say,

hey, this isn't right,

what we're doing,
it isn't right.

I'd do it again, every time.

I don't regret anything.

2012 EUROS
POLAND AND UKRAINE

SPAIN MAKES THIRD
CONSECUTIVE FINAL

SPAIN - ITALY
FINAL

Let's go, let's go!

For Euros,
we were in the zone.

It was all good feelings,
good vibes.

It was like we forgot
about everything

we had done before.

Four years later,
we faced Italy in the final.

And that closed the circle

of that winning generation.

Of feeling good,
of pleasant soccer.

You're having fun
in a Euros final.

Iker had an amazing culmination

with that great generation
of players.

I think it's important,

how the team matured
from 2008 to 2012.

The legacy of that team,
I think it's the unity.

And that together
we are always much stronger,

more invincible, as we showed.

Inside we had our difficulties,
like all families,

and we got over them.

Everyone putting the group
before the individual,

that's the key to success
for me.

Without a doubt.

We achieved balance
on the team,

with those who played more,
and those who played less.

Being generous
is always profitable.

You have to be generous
in soccer.

We put a bow on things
with that game,

the Euros, the World Cup,

and winning Euros again,
which no one had done.

SPAIN 4 - 0 ITALY

What I keep from that
are the friends I made,

the human group,

the stories, the laughs,
hanging out together.

The final, on the grass with
my teammates and their kids,

it was the image of a story

we started as children

and were finishing as adults.

For me,
the secret to all this

lies in something simple,
that they were the best.

And I also think
that was part of their success,

that people connected

with these guys
who weren't deified,

they weren't
from another planet,

they were just normal people.

It's interesting
remember that team

as a team without stars,
because they were all stars.

But they were stars

who behaved
as members of a group.

That's different.

It wasn't just a sporting event,

they were events
that transcended sports,

national events.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 2008

WORLD CHAMPIONS 2010

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 2012

IN MEMORIAM

LUIS ARAGONÉS
7/28/1938 - 2/1/2014