Dani Jarque Tribute: Andres Iniesta Dedicates World Cup Goal To Fallen Teammate (PICTURES)

JOHANNESBURG — Andres Iniesta will always be remembered for the goal that gave Spain its first World Cup title. And when he scored, Iniesta remembered former teammate Daniel Jarque.

Moments after his extra-time goal gave Spain a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Sunday's final, Iniesta took off his blue Spain jersey to reveal a white T-shirt bearing the words, "Dani Jarque: siempre con nosotros" – "Dani Jarque: always with us."

Jarque collapsed and died at the age of 26 on a preseason tour of Italy last year, one month after being named captain of Espanyol.

Iniesta and Jarque were teammates on Spain's under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 teams.

"I wanted to carry Dani with me," Iniesta said after picking up his man of the match award. "We wanted to pay tribute to him and we thought it was the best opportunity to do so."

Iniesta was given a yellow card for the gesture – the rule when players remove their jerseys – but that was a small price to pay after he blasted a shot across Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and in at the far post.

"I can't quite believe it yet," the 26-year-old Barcelona midfielder said. "I had the opportunity to score that goal which was so important to my team. It's something absolutely incredible. I simply made a small contribution to my team."

Moments after explaining his tribute to Jarque, teammates Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol burst into the news conference room with beers in hand and started chanting, "You're the best, you're the best" at Iniesta, who broke into a wide smile.

"It was a difficult game, the Netherlands closed down a lot at the back and didn't let us get through. We had some chances that we didn't put away, they had some chances too," said Spain striker David Villa. "In the end the goal by our kid 'San Andres' means that we're world champions."

One of the creative midfielders who inspires Spain's attack, Iniesta arrived in South Africa struggling after an injury-plagued season. A thigh muscle injury in his right leg has nagged him since he helped Barcelona win the Champions League in May 2009.

But he saved Spain in a tight, tense game.

"When the game finished a lot of the difficult moments flashed in front of me," Iniesta said. "But, in the end, football sometimes gives back. Every situation has its moment and with this one I felt enormous happiness."

Comments

[mikefina]

02:45 PM on 07/13/2010

Very cool. Classy. Bravo, sir.

[Lulu-2]

02:15 PM on 07/13/2010

How touching. Bravo.

[ilikemusic]

02:00 PM on 07/13/2010

The Spanish team also dedicated their 2008 Euro title to another fallen Spanish footballer, Antonio Puerta.

Its hard to be anything but thrilled for the Spanish team. They have been through quite alot in the last four years.

[DoUntoOthers]

10:59 PM on 07/12/2010

Amazing Sportsmanship!

[k1k2lee]

08:48 PM on 07/12/2010

This is what the Spanish Prime Minister had to say of Iniesta:
"He represents like no-one else good football and human qualities," Zapatero said of Iniesta "I want to make a special mention of somebody who yesterday remembered someone who is no longer with us when he scored the winning goal. There is no better role model for our youths, given his talent and personal qualities. Thank you Iniesta for remembering Dani yesterday during an unforgettable day for Spain."
How true, how true.

[Olampean]

07:11 PM on 07/12/2010

Beautiful goal, beautiful gesture!

[jajenkins]

03:36 PM on 07/12/2010

I love that in the most triumphant moment of his life, he remembered his friend - and got a yellow card for it too!

It was sweet and saucy - and now, of course, Iniesta has been elevated to national sainthood!

[LogicalMathMan]

03:50 PM on 07/12/2010

Yes, I remember the news of his friend's death. What could be more electrifying and heart wrenching than this historic moment - flouting the threat of a yellow card to pay homage to a loving friend.

RIP and viva Espana!

[Parigi75]

07:00 PM on 07/12/2010

Yup, he got a yellow card for this gesture of affection and memory, the same punishment that the Dutch player (de Jonk) got for kicking a Spanish player in the thorax.

[Iker Gernika]

11:46 AM on 07/13/2010

You mean karate "de Jonk" kid?

[Just walkin the dog here]

11:57 AM on 07/13/2010

I agree completely. I have reffed a great deal over the years. I think there needs to a serious overhaul of the referees ability to deal with out-of-control players. Among others, I would immediately suggest a double yellow carded player be replaced costing one substitution. It would help get out-of-control; players off of the field. If a defender continually gets kicked off the field and the coach has to use substitutions to re-fill the position, he will stop getting starts. I love the game but I have to admit, that if the Super Bowl was continually 0-0 at the end of regulation, I'd probably stop watching. Soccer scoring is at a premium and needs to be increased by protection of highly skilled ball handlers over thug defenders who just grab shirt.shorts, shove with no intention of playing the ball, trip from behind, etc. The ref has little but the nuclear option (red card) to deal with this. Most ref's are reluctant to pull a red and some defenders know this and get away with a great deal of attacks. Give the ref more tools for managing a game.

[jourdankr]

12:49 PM on 07/12/2010

Beautiful moment.

[jonmonbuckeye]

12:21 PM on 07/12/2010

THAT is why I love this game. Friendship and loyalty above all else.

[Christophe]

07:15 PM on 07/12/2010

Yes. Not just a business.

[descreptivenarration]

12:03 PM on 07/12/2010

Viva San Andres! Spain played perfect fooball. The Dutch played a really hard game, very aggressive. It was the only way they could hope to stop Spain. But it didn't work.

[piul05]

11:23 AM on 07/12/2010

Classy.

[Christophe]

01:46 PM on 07/12/2010

Exactly.

[tcnsrq]

10:45 AM on 07/12/2010

he'll be remembered also for the dives he took and all the whining to the ref ...who unfortunately bought his malarky

[Christophe]

01:47 PM on 07/12/2010

That is not even true.

[Winthorpe]

02:11 PM on 07/12/2010

Stay classy, tcnsrq!

[Jetwash]

10:21 AM on 07/12/2010

Viva San Andres! Que viva Espana! Way to dump the prevailing notion in football that you have to big goons, play a physical game, long balls and deep runs. Spain showed that they could possess the ball and the game with extreme skill--the beautiful game that figured out a way to beat the thugs.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

09:46 AM on 07/12/2010

Congratulations to a mugging well survived, er, I mean a match well won.

[MurrayAbraham]

09:41 AM on 07/12/2010

My very poor Spanish prevented me from "getting it" as it happened, but I suspected something deep and personal.

Perhaps the only "yellow" a player will ever be proud of. Very nice gesture.

[Arrech]

10:24 AM on 07/12/2010

Indeed