Fernando Torres, who was one of the five nominees in the men's category at the FIFA World Player Gala, shared his thoughts on a very successful 2008 for the striker with FIFA.com at the event in Zurich.“Last year was fantastic but if I'm honest with you, it was also unexpected. I came into it having recently moved to a new club and country and so expected the first year to be about adapting to these. However, I then began to score goals and take on an important role. And though I was unable to win a title with my club, triumphing at EURO 2008 with the national team, which perhaps seemed the most difficult task of all, compensated for that.”

Although the 1-0 victory of Germany in the final was the highlight of the year for Fernando, the forward also singled out another clash from the European Championships. “Getting past the barrier of the quarter-finals was vital for us, and even more so doing it against Italy, a team that always beat us. Later, the final against another powerhouse, Germany, was also unforgettable, but it was getting past the quarters that gave us the confidence we needed.”

According to Fernando, the secret to Spain's success was the good team spirit. “In teams you often have problems in the dressing room or players who aren't happy unless they're in the starting eleven. In this side, it was the exact opposite. We all knew the role we had to play, and that was fundamental. Moreover, that hasn't changed under Del Bosque.”


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