SPAIN midfielder Sergio Busquets has hailed his Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta as “magical” after a crucial performance in the country’s Euro 2016 opening game against the Czech Republic.
An inspiration in Spain’s 2008 and 2012 European Championship successes and their 2010 World Cup win, the 32-year-old Iniesta set up goal-scorer Gerard Pique with a precise cross to win 1-0 on Monday.
“As the years go by, each time he gets better and remains just as important for us on the pitch as he is off it,” Busquets told Cadena Ser radio. “It’s marvellous to have him with us, he is magical.”
Named Man of the Match against the Czechs, Iniesta received plenty of praise in the Spanish media.
“When he takes two steps, it’s two steps forward for the team and two steps back for the rivals,” El Pais said in an opinion column.
“With Iniesta, everything is possible,” wrote online newspaper El Confidential.
A headline in El Mundo said: “Iniesta holds Spain’s map.”
The player, who made his 110th appearance for Spain on Monday, said he was happy to still be fit enough to make a difference for the national team.
“I said many years ago I wish I would still be asked the same question for years to come – whether I thought I was still at the top of my form,” Iniesta told Cadena Cope radio. “I celebrate that I’m healthy, that I’m still able to finish the games well, as that is the important thing.”
Spain have had the ideal start but have plenty to do to win the tournament for a third straight time. They next meet Turkey in Nice on Friday.
“There is no point in having a good game and then following it with a terrible performance,” Iniesta said. “We have to plan the game against Turkey with the same motivation and enthusiasm as we did against the Czechs.”
Turkey lost 1-0 to Croatia in their Group D opener on Monday. Spain end the group stages against Croatia on 21 June. – REUTERS
