Luis Enrique gives the list of Spain for the World Cup without Sergio Ramos or Aspas 1:43
(CNN) --
July 11, 2010 is the most important date in the history of Spanish soccer.
On that day, La Roja won their first and only FIFA World Cup, so far, by beating the Netherlands in the grand final in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"At that moment you are seeing it, but you are not aware," said the Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta, author of the world goal that gave Spain the World Cup in 2010, and that led him to be in that historic 10 in Spain that still today many remember.
"I unchecked when Fernando Torres had the ball on the left. I do remember that well," Iniesta said.
"Then Cesc (Fábregas) retains the ball and I am in a position to receive it too."
"When I controlled it, it was a little stretched out to the right, what I wanted was to cross it, a strong shot. And when I control the ball it keeps bouncing and I see an opportune moment to hook the ball and fortunately it went well, it came out strong and it ended as we all wanted it to be a goal and it has helped to win that World Cup", said the striker about the goal against the Netherlands in South Africa that 2010.
Iniesta and Ramos remember the title in South Africa 2010 3:20
"Andrés scored it because I think he had to score it, but I think that goal was scored by a whole country," said Spain's defender Sergio Ramos 10 years after Spain's World Cup feat, recalling the blame moment for the one selected in a World Cup.
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The road to the title of Spain in 2010
Spain reached the championship after leaving behind great teams like the Netherlands, Germany, Argentina and Portugal.
In the group stage, Spain led Group H, which it shared with Chile, Switzerland and Honduras, reaching six points: they lost to Switzerland (1-0);
they beat Honduras (2-0) and beat Chile (2-1).
Despite starting with a defeat, they went as first in the group to the round of 16.
Already in the second round, he had a match as a final against Portugal, his historical rival.
The Portuguese team, with Bruno Alves, Pepe, Hugo Almeida and Cristiano Ronaldo, led by Carlos Queiroz, was emerging as one of the favorites for South Africa 2010. But the Spanish squad, with a luxury team that included Torres, Villa, Iniesta , Hernández, Ramos and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, went all out on the pitch in a heart-stopping match.
Spain's forward David Villa celebrates after scoring against Portugal during their 2010 World Cup round of 16 soccer match at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, June 29, 2010. (CREDIT: LLUIS GENE/ AFP via Getty Images)
Then the game was goalless in the first part of the game, although with two arrivals from Fernando Torres, Carles Puyol for Spain, and many others by Almeida and Ronaldo for Portugal.
The second half was more eventful, with a clear arrival by Fernando Llorente at the Portuguese goal in minute 59, but goalkeeper Eduardo Carvahlo saved his goal.
David Villa would be the key man in this game not only because of his arrivals.
In the 63rd minute, a pass from Iniesta in the six-yard box, with a kick from behind for Villa, makes the striker attack: the ball bounced off the goalkeeper and Villa counterattacked with his right foot scoring the winning goal for Spain, who went to the quarterfinals.
Then came the quarterfinals, a stage in which Spain beat Paraguay, at Ellis Park Stadium, with a goal also from David Villa in the 81st minute of play, with an assist from Pedro, giving him the pass to the semifinal against Germany, another of the greats.
Also with a goal difference, Spain beat Germany and went to the final against the Netherlands, who had beaten Uruguay 3-2 with goals from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.
For Uruguay the goals came from Diego Forlán, who tied the game at 1;
and Maximiliano Pereira, who scored for the Uruguayans in extra time.
Spain's defender Sergio Ramos (C) raises the trophy as Spain's national soccer team players celebrate winning the 2010 soccer World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain on July 11, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburb of Johannesburg. (Credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Finally, Spain scored in a thrilling final, conceding a goal difference to the Netherlands after extra time.
And the Dutch were left with the most bitter defeat of the World Cups: obtaining second place in the World Cup.
How has Spain fared in other World Cups?
Spain has had 15 participations in World Cups between 1934 and 2018. 2022 will be its participation No. 16.
Of those 15 participations, "La Roja" has been in the group stage seven times: in 1950, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1998 and 2014.
Spain has reached the round of 16 phase three times: in 1990, 2006 and 2018. In this last World Cup, in 2018, it was eliminated by the host, Russia, on penalties 5-4.
La Roja has reached the quarterfinals four times: Italy 1934, Mexico 1986;
USA 1994, and Korea-Japan 2002.
And in 2010 he achieved soccer glory with the world championship in South Africa.
In the World Cup in Qatar, Spain is in Group E and will have its first match against Costa Rica on November 23.
Group of Spain in the World Cup in Qatar 2022: rivals, dates and matches
Spain soccer team