Villa bids Spain a tearful adieu
Print Edition
DAVID Villa extended his record goal-scoring run at the World Cup on Monday and broke down in tears as he left the field as a Spain player for the final time.
Despite crashing out of the tournament, the world and European champion ended its World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over Australia. Villa registered his 59th international goal in his 97th and final appearance just before half-time.
However, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer was surprisingly replaced by Vicente del Bosque just before the hour mark. Despite being consoled by teammates, Villa cut a dejected figure as his stellar international career came to an end.
“I have always had a lot of love for the national team and it has always been what I dreamed about,” said the 32-year-old.
“I would play until I am 55 but that is impossible and I have to be realistic.”
Del Bosque felt pangs of regret over replacing Villa with Juan Mata, with Villa also registering some anger at being replaced. “He said it was his last game and I didn’t know,” Del Bosque said. “No doubt he would be upset.”
Villa, who ended his club career in Europe as a champion with Atletico Madrid as it became the first side outside Real Madrid and Barcelona to win La Liga for 10 years, was the spearhead at the beginning of Spain’s record three straight major triumphs.
Top goalscorer at both the European Championships in 2008 and the World Cup in 2010, he sits 21 goals clear of Fernando Torres as the highest scoring active player for his country.
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