Spain star Xavi has urged his team-mates to enjoy Sunday's World Cup final against Holland as they stand on the brink of history.
Spain midfielder sets sights on global glory
Spain star Xavi has urged his team-mates to enjoy Sunday's World Cup final against Holland as they stand on the brink of history.
The midfield maestro was again in sparkling form as Carles Puyol's towering second-half header helped the Euro 2008 winners secure a 1-0 victory over Germany in Durban to reach their first-ever final of the global showpiece.
Vicente del Bosque's men can now join West Germany by becoming only the second side to claim World Cup glory while holding the title of European champions.
Xavi and co have already been installed as favourites but the Barcelona ace is keen to relieve the pressure and make sure Spain make the most of their big day at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
"Let's enjoy the final," said Xavi.
Great chance
"We dedicate this victory to Spain. If we play on Sunday like we did today, we will have a great chance."
Xavi felt Spain dominated their youthful opponents, turning the screw in the second half and netting the crucial winner moments after Toni Kroos had missed Germany's best chance.
"We played as we wanted to," he said.
"Now it is a final against Holland, a great team playing great football with great players in midfield and up front.
"We will have to impose our personality and football on them."
Masters
Defeated Germany coach Joachim Low paid a glowing tribute to Spain and believes they will go on to become only the eighth nation to lift the World Cup.
"I am confident they will win the title," he said.
"Spain are a wonderful team. They are the masters of the game. You can see it in every pass. They can hardly be beaten. They are extremely calm and convincing. Spain were just better than we were and they deserved to win.
"In 2008 they won the European Championships in a very convincing way (beating Germany in the final) and they have been unchanged over the past two or three years. They play in an automatic way. They have put on top performances in all matches they have played and they can beat everyone.
"Over the past two or three years they have been the most skilled team of all. They circulate the ball quickly and we were not able to play like previous matches. We were not able to get rid of our inhibitions."
