Ferran Torres reflected on criticism, destiny and Spain’s collective strength after scoring the extra-time winner against Argentina.
After firing Spain to World Cup glory with his extra-time strike against Argentina, Ferran Torres was quick to dedicate the goal to the country’s 47 million people.
The Barcelona forward stepped off the bench and, in the 106th minute, found the only goal of the night, enough to seal a 1-0 win and deliver Spain’s second men’s World Cup, their first since winning in South Africa in 2010.
Torres might have been the man for the moment, but his thoughts turned straight to those watching back home and to the teammates who had helped carry Spain all the way.
“I think that, in the end, the goal belonged to 47 million people,” Torres said, Speaking to AS after the final.
“It wasn’t mine, nor did it belong to the 26 players who are here.
“I think that today destiny was written. It was made for us to win far away from our people, but we tried to make them feel as close as possible.”
Spain dominated for long spells, carving out chance after chance but finding no way past Emiliano Martínez. It took Torres, deep into extra time, to finally break Argentina’s resistance.
With Lionel Messi on the pitch and Argentina’s experience as reigning champions, the tension never really left the Spanish side as the minutes ticked by without a goal.
“Every final is difficult and when you have Messi in the opposing team, that nervousness always comes in,” Torres said.
“But in the end we have always depended on ourselves, on playing our football, and I think today we showed it once again.”
For Torres, the goal was more than just a winner, it was a personal release.
He’d faced his share of criticism during the tournament, and until the final, he had not managed to find the back of the net, even though he’d come close on several occassions.
But when the defining chance finally came, Torres didn’t hesitate. He drove the ball past Martínez and into Spanish football history.
“Ultimately, it was a huge release,” he said.
“I think I have been heavily criticised throughout the World Cup, but I think, as I said before, destiny is written.
“Thank God, he always gives me that strength to carry on and, in the end, as I say, God gives things to those who deserve them most.”
Looking back, Torres admitted there was no time to think as the ball came to him in the box, just instinct.
“The truth is I didn’t think,” he said.
“I simply saw the ball coming to me and I think it was something I deserved, and that’s why it came to me.”
Spain’s run to the title was built on the depth of Luis de la Fuente’s squad, with different players stepping up at key moments all tournament long.
Torres started the final on the bench, but when his chance came, he delivered the moment that separated the two sides.
“In the end, it is the secret the manager has always spoken about, that this is a team of 26,” he said.
“We are above individuals and everyone has had their moments during the tournament.”
Torres will always be linked to the goal that gave Spain their second star, but even in the moment, he was thinking about the bigger picture, the squad, and the country.
The finish was his, but in his eyes, the goal belonged to all 47 million.
