Opinions of four world champions

10.07.2010 10:58

Opinions of four world champions

Berta Brau

Juanin Garcia, Juan Carlos Navarro, Javi Rodríguez and Beto Borregan all know what winning a World Cup is all about, making them the ideal people to turn to for opinions ahead of the South Africa 2010 final.

Not many people can claim to be world champions. But at Barça there are twelve and they know just how Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta and the others feel on the eve of the final against Holland (Sunday at 20.30). We spoke to Juan Carlos Navarro, Juanin García, Javi Rodríguez and Beto Borregán, Barça world champions, in order to learn of their similar experiences.

Juanin García

The Barça Borges player became handball world champion in Tunisia in 2005. “It all worked out for us”, he remembers. “We also only lost one game, against Croatia but ended up winning the final”. For Juanin, a World Cup “is the biggest thing for a sportsperson” and he disagrees with people who say the final should be treated like any other game: “It’s not like that, there is something unique about representing your country in a World Cup final.” The Barça man said it is hard to believe what is happening “and your head is in the cloud for a moment and there is no time to take it all in”.

Juan Carlos Navarro

“Our World Cup was special for everything it meant. Especially after beating Argentina by one point in the semi final. In fact, it was easier than we expected to beat Greece, we went out very strong”, says the FCB guard. Of all the moments at the 2006 World Cup in Japan, Navarro especially remembers “how we dedicated the win to Pau Gasol, who was injured in the semi final, and the way we put on shirts and the way the two Gasol brothers hugged each other”.

The Barça man feels it is important to be in control of the psychological aspect. “You are always going to feel nervous but you need to be able to control that. The head is more important in a final than fitness and it is mentality that will win or lose it for you”. Navarro added that it is important “to trust the team-mates you have around you” because success is the sum of both individual and collective play.

Beto Borregan

“It’s the biggest thing I ever won, the words World Cup say it all” said the Barça Sorli Discau man on the 2001 final they won against host nation Argentina. Borregan especially remembers lifting the trophy as captain. “A lot of thoughts went through my head at that moment, a lot of images of the people that had tried and failed before me”.

In the build-up to the final he remembers feeling a lot of “responsibility and respect” and he knows that the word “anxiety” will sum up the way Del Bosque’s players will be feeling as they “bid to do something that has never been done before. They have to overcome the tension with ambition, pride and desire”.

Javi Rodríguez

Barça’s futsal captain has won two World Cups in 2000 in Guatemala, and 2004 in Chinese Taipei. Javi Rodríguez remembers how he felt about playing world finals, saying “before the game you get positive vibes, I just wanted to go out and enjoy it. During the game you get different and contrasting feelings, it changes. Then when you win you feel proud that you have done the job well. Whatever happens on court, Javi Rodríguez highlights “the good feeling that’s generated between the team members” and which is transferred into good play”.

On the final in Johannesburg, the captain feels that Spain "will have to play their usual way, the Barça way" and said that Xavi and Iniesta "will have to set the pace for the other players. That is why they are the favourites”.