"I'm ready"

Raúl ready to face France

He was the great protagonist of the press conference that he, Puyol and Xabi Alonso gave in Hannover. Raúl will be starting, allowing him to help the team from within the pitch since kickoff. He's ready and he knows he has a great chance to prove his worth.

It's a great day to be back in the starting eleven.
It's time to enjoy, something which I have done in the last three matches, whether it was from the bench or in the field of play. We're a great team and we will prove it during the tournament.

Are you at your best for the clash?
We all have to be ready and that's the case with me. The Spanish manager has always acted keeping my best interests in mind. Now, if I can play from the beginning, I will be very happy. What I really want is for Spain to be in the quarterfinals when the referee whistles the end and to see that people are proud of and hooked to our play.

Does a player feel important in the bench?
We have all felt important in every national team Spain has had. I feel as responsible as before. I think we have a coach with very clear ideas since he took over and we are going to try to win it all with a very sincere footballing commitment: having control of the ball.

The times we have not had that control, we have suffered, even when the opponent was not a strong side. If we have the ball, France will suffer. That makes us all feel important because anyone coming in from the bench can help win a match.

How do you see Fernando Torres?
He's a very impoprtant player. He's fast, he scores goals… and I'm sure he will be essential for the team against France.

It will be a special day for you because, additionally, it is your birthday.
It's the first time I'm playing an international tournament on this day. I'm happy, on the one hand, because I had though about it. But I would have wanted it to be on the semis. Tomorrow, it's time to give up thinking individually and fight as a team for success. We'l have time to celebrate later on.

Is France doing as bad as it looks?
They've won everything and we have won nothing. So the hunger for titles and the ambition should give us that extra edge. Our hopes of doing something great should outdo theirs. Still, their experience should be beneficial for them even though they might not be doing so well. We'll know tomorrow at elevenish.

Do you fear getting defeated?
I'm not even thinking of that.

It would be tough to say goodbye to Zidane the day he plays against Spain.
I hope it's his last match. He said goodbye to Real Madrid already and the World Cup marks his last professional games so, for the good of Spain, I hope it's the last.

What you do have is the full support of the fans?
When the team wins and makes people proud, everyone gets behind. We have felt the support in Germany and from the news trickling from back home. But we have to be realistic, be calm and understand that the real World Cup starts now. This is where Spain have always underachieved. It's our chance and we will try to take advantage of it.

Is the psychologist an important help right now?
He's trying to help the group get to these stages with the best possible mentality. You need little motivation, but at certain times, someone might need it. The group has a winning mentality, knows very well what it has to do, and is fervently waiting for the day of the match.

Do you feel you have to settle an old score?
What's important is that Spain is victorious in the end. Only that.

Is this the best Spanish national team you've played with?
It's not the first time I've said it. I have never seen this much quality in one single squad. The skipper is betting hard on talent. This mix of experienced and young, hungry players makes us dream that this might be the World Cup of Spain.

Do you fear that this might be your last great event with the Spanish national side?
I hope to continue playing with Spain in important events. But forget about the future. The present-day is radiant and our chance is here, in Germany. We have yo give it our very best to make this the moment we've all been waiting for.