Bulgaria's Stoichkov Says BarceSpain True World Cup Winner

Sports | July 13, 2010, Tuesday // 11:09|  views

“Spain proved that in today's football, dominated by power and pressure, they have the most skilled players,” Hristo Stoichkov said in an interview for Trud daily. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Former Bulgarian football star and Barcelona player Hristo Stoichkov has lauded what he called the well deserved victory of the Spanish team at the World Cup tournament in South Africa.

“Spain proved that in today's football, dominated by power and pressure, they have the most skilled players,” Stoichkov said in an interview for Trud daily.

According to him Spain's defeat by Switzerland in the first match did not do any harm, on the contrary – it made the team poll all their forces.

“It suddenly struck them that even if you are a European champion, you don't have the right to underestimate the others,” added the 44-year-old former striker and national coach.

Asked to comment statements that Spain's success lies in the country's much-talked-about Barcelona club, which is the true World Cup champion, Stoichkov said:

“This is a good comparison, true as well may be. I would not use it out of respect for the football players from the other clubs in the national team. Yet it is a fact that Puyol, Pique, Iniesta, Pedro, Busquets were the main culprits for the Spanish triumph.

Add to that the goalkeeper Victor Valdes, the new signing David Villa and Fabregas, who is expected to move to Camp Nou, and you end up with something like BarceSpain.”

Stoichkov, who managed Bulgaria between 2004 and 2007, harshly criticized the decisions of the referees in South Africa.

“There were too many mistakes and now the easiest thing to do is to spit on the referees. That however would change nothing. What the referees need is help,” the Bulgarian legend said.

According to him the time has come for the introduction of technologies, but the referees themselves are not very keen about that.

Spain defeated the Netherlands 1:0 in the 2010 World Cup final after 120 minutes on the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

After a scoreless draw in the regular time, the Spanish and the Dutch went into a 30-minute extra time.

The only goal was scored by Spain's Iniesta in the 116th minute after Netherlands' back Heitinga received a red card in the 110th minute.

Howard Webb, the first referee to officiate the European Champions League final and World Cup final in the same season, dished out 13 yellow cards and one red.

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Tags: Netherlands, Fabregas, David Villa, Victor Valdes, Busquets, Pedro, Iniesta, Pique, Puyol, Stoichkov, Spain, Barcelona, Hristo Stoichkov, BarceSpain

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