Queen Letizia's joy in Spain's World Cup celebrations sums up nation's feelings

Spain reigned supreme in Australia and nothing summed up the nation’s feelings more than Queen Letizia making her way to the centre of the team photograph and lifting the trophy.

She was then presented with a Spain shirt with a No 12 on the back and had to politely decline as the entire squad chanted for her to put it on.

Protocol was forgotten as Spain became only the second nation, after Germany, to have won both the men’s and women’s World Cups.

‘We dedicate it to all our families and to the people back in Spain,’ said forward Jennifer Hermoso who saw her second-half penalty saved by Mary Earps.

‘We have played football the way we wanted to and we have won a world championship.’

Back in Spain supporters had been queuing some two hours before kick-off outside the 6,000-capacity WiZink Center in Madrid, one of around 30 fan sites set up around the country to show the final.

On 90 minutes there was a communal gasp of anxiety as the fourth official showed that 13 minutes were to be added on, but once the final whistle had been blown the euphoria was released.

‘We got revenge in the most important of games,’ said Diario AS, remembering how England had knocked Spain out of the Euros in the quarter-finals a year ago.

‘It’s nice that we are breaking down barriers and that we are being talked about,’ said midfielder Teresa Abelleira.

The spotlight is unlikely to diminish any time soon. Spain are due to arrive back home to Madrid on Monday night when they will go straight into a trophy parade.