Coach Luis Aragones was pleased for his players after Spain put a turbulent 18 months behind them to book their place in the European Championship finals in fine style on Saturday.
Knowing a victory in their top-of-the-table clash with group leaders Sweden would guarantee them a place in next year's finals, Spain dominated from start to finish at the Bernabeu en route to a hugely impressive 3-0 triumph.
Joan Capdevila and Andres Iniesta set the hosts on the road to success with first-half goals before Sergio Ramos wrapped up the scoring midway through the second period, leaving Spain two points clear of Sweden at the top of Group F.
Spain can secure first place in the standings in their final match against third-placed Northern Ireland on Wednesday, and that would be some achievement for a side who 12 months ago looked in crisis.
A premature exit from the 2006 World Cup was followed by two defeats in their opening three Euro 2008 qualifiers plus a friendly loss to Romania, and the spotlight was firmly on the under-pressure Aragones and his team.
However, a year down the line and an unbeaten run of nine wins and two draws in 2007 has left Spain in much better shape, culminating in Saturday's qualification to Euro 2008.
"Primarily I am happy for the players, who have had as a bad a time of it as me," said Aragones following the Sweden win.
"In the hard times I told them 'if you run and fight, with the ability that you have, there is a good chance that we will qualify because we have good players'.
"As for me, at certain times I understand that there could be criticism, but there have been insults and this I will not abide. I understand and appreciate that football is like that, though," added the veteran coach, who confirmed he will still be stepping down following next year's European Championship finals.
"I have a date when my contract ends and you all know this," he said.
Capdevila was one of Spain's biggest heroes in Saturday's game, scoring the first and then playing a major part in his side's other two goals.
The Villarreal left-back said of his 14th-minute opener: "I am really happy because it was my first goal with the national team and I will remember it all my life.
"I have been searching for it for some time and it is the most special goal I have scored in my career, without doubt.
"It was a fantastic game. We like to play at the Bernabeu, before a crowd who always support us and we have thoroughly enjoyed a game which has been comfortable," he added in AS.
Joan Capdevila and Andres Iniesta set the hosts on the road to success with first-half goals before Sergio Ramos wrapped up the scoring midway through the second period, leaving Spain two points clear of Sweden at the top of Group F.
Spain can secure first place in the standings in their final match against third-placed Northern Ireland on Wednesday, and that would be some achievement for a side who 12 months ago looked in crisis.
A premature exit from the 2006 World Cup was followed by two defeats in their opening three Euro 2008 qualifiers plus a friendly loss to Romania, and the spotlight was firmly on the under-pressure Aragones and his team.
However, a year down the line and an unbeaten run of nine wins and two draws in 2007 has left Spain in much better shape, culminating in Saturday's qualification to Euro 2008.
"Primarily I am happy for the players, who have had as a bad a time of it as me," said Aragones following the Sweden win.
"In the hard times I told them 'if you run and fight, with the ability that you have, there is a good chance that we will qualify because we have good players'.
"As for me, at certain times I understand that there could be criticism, but there have been insults and this I will not abide. I understand and appreciate that football is like that, though," added the veteran coach, who confirmed he will still be stepping down following next year's European Championship finals.
"I have a date when my contract ends and you all know this," he said.
Capdevila was one of Spain's biggest heroes in Saturday's game, scoring the first and then playing a major part in his side's other two goals.
The Villarreal left-back said of his 14th-minute opener: "I am really happy because it was my first goal with the national team and I will remember it all my life.
"I have been searching for it for some time and it is the most special goal I have scored in my career, without doubt.
"It was a fantastic game. We like to play at the Bernabeu, before a crowd who always support us and we have thoroughly enjoyed a game which has been comfortable," he added in AS.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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