Spain's World Cup winners enjoyed a heroes' reception as jubilant supporters took to the streets of Madrid in their droves to welcome home Vicente Del Bosque's history-makers on Monday.
Spain, who on Sunday night 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 on Monday afternoon before embarking on an evening of official celebrations and festivities.
Spain party in style as heroes head home...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 - expected to number more than a million - had been waiting for hours to cheer the team on from the pavements and road.
Having landed at Madrid's Barajas airport at around 3pm local time, 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.
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.'
The European and world champions then boarded an open-top bus at around 8pm before slowly making their way into the heart of the city, which 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.
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, as television images suggested they were on the flight back from Johannesburg as well, were at the centre of the players' celebrations on the team bus as the parade inched its way down Madrid's Gran Via.
Such was the slow pace of the procession that when players reached the Cibeles fountain - the traditional place of celebration for Real Madrid which was only about a third of the way through the route - it was already 9pm, which was the planned time for the players to be at their final destination, which was a specially-constructed stage by banks of the river Manzanares.
Thousands more fans had been waiting at that location from mid-afternoon and, with the temperature approaching 40 degrees, they would have been grateful for the fire hoses that regularly doused them with water to cool them down.
Supporters passed the time by championing goal hero Iniesta, chanting in Spanish: 'Thanks to Iniesta, Spain is in fiesta'.
As the night progressed the celebrations continued with an aerial exhibition that saw seven jets fly overhead trailing smoke in the red and yellow colours of the Spain flag.
As the players finally arrived at the final stop of their circuit around central Madrid, they were greeted by a huge sea of celebrating fans with the Black Eyed Peas hit single 'I Gotta Feeling' booming out in the background.
A public announcer whipped the expectant onlookers into a state of further excitement as the World Cup winners crossed a bridge over the Manzanares before travelling the final few 100 metres towards the stage, encouraging them to chant in Spanish, "Yes yes yes, the cup is here".
Once the whole 23-man squad plus coaching and backroom staff made their way onto the stage, various members of the all-conquering party spoke to the assembled supporters.
Captain Casillas, the Real Madrid goalkeeper, said: 'I don't know what to say, only that I'm delighted to be here with you. We (the players) have achieved the dream that we've all had since we were small.'
Coach Del Bosque added: 'It's not only winning but how you win, and that's what these players have done, they are an example to all. Thanks for all the support you've sent to us in South Africa, you are also world champions.'
Iniesta, holding a toy octopus in reference to Paul, the sea creature based in a German aquarium made famous for correctly predicting winning teams during the World Cup - including Spain in the final - joked: 'Thanks to the octopus we are champions. I only want to say that you should be proud of this group. They're the best. I'm very proud to be part of them.'
After that, the ebullient Reina was handed the microphone and he went through the squad player by player. When he arrived at 10, the number worn by Cesc Fabregas, he brought the Arsenal player out to the front of stage, where Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique raced out and tried to force a Barcelona shirt on him.
Barcelona are keen to sign the 23-year-old, who came up through the youth ranks at the Catalan giants before moving to Arsenal as a youngster, and had a 35million euro bid turned down by the Gunners before the World Cup.
Fabregas has stated his desire to return to the Nou Camp but he nevertheless seemed reluctant to let Barcelona defenders Puyol and Pique dress him in the club's famous blue and red shirt.
Once the players had finished speaking to the public, the celebrations continued with fireworks, music and no doubt a long night of partying ahead for some as the Iberian nation revel in having officially the best football team on the planet.
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