The Day After

1m turn out to cheer Spain

SPAIN’S WORLD Cup winners enjoyed a heroes’ reception as jubilant supporters took to the streets of Madrid in their droves to welcome home Vicente del Bosque’s history-makers.

Spain landed back in Madrid yesterday afternoon before embarking on an evening of official celebrations and festivities.

Those celebrations included meeting members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister before taking an open-top bus ride through the streets of the Spanish capital, where rows and rows of well-wishers – expected to number more than a million – had been waiting for hours to cheer the team on from the pavements and road.

Webb not up to job – Robben

ARJEN ROBBEN has claimed Howard Webb was not up to the job of handling the World Cup final.

Robben believes he was the victim of a gross injustice when Carles Puyol – who had already been booked – tried to stop him racing clean through when the match was still level.

TV replays clearly showed Puyol tugging Robben back, only for Webb to play an advantage when the Dutch winger broke free again.

However, once Iker Casillas had raced from his goal to gather, Robben expected Webb to take further action, which did not come.“It is very clear,” he said. “He has to send him off and he has to give a free-kick. In the end there was no advantage.”

Liverpool wait on Torres scan

FERNANDO TORRES will undergo a scan on the groin injury he suffered during the World Cup final within the next 48 hours amid concerns that the Liverpool striker and Chelsea transfer target will be out of action for up to two months.

The Spain international sustained an injury to his left adductor in the closing moments of Sunday’s victory, although he and Liverpool will not discover the full extent of the damage until a further examination has been made. Spain’s return journey from South Africa and triumphant homecoming in Madrid prevented any assessment yesterday.

Fabregas’ future still uncertain

CESC FABREGAS dedicated his World Cup triumph to Arsenal – but his future with the club remains shrouded in mystery.

“This is for the Arsenal players, the Arsenal fans, for the manager and all his staff,” said Fabregas. “I had a text message of congratulations from Arsene Wenger. He said I deserve it. I just think this is for everyone at Arsenal who helped me get to where I am now. I am really proud to have been an Arsenal player.”

It is the last comment that will be seized upon by those who do not believe Fabregas has a future at the Emirates Stadium. As welded as he is to Arsenal and Wenger, Fabregas is known to be frustrated at the lack of progress in five trophyless years.