Nadal, Vonn win Laureus sports awards

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his quarterfinal match against compatriot David Ferrer at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 26, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Spain enjoyed a double celebration on Monday when tennis champion Rafael Nadal and their World Cup winning soccer team walked away with the top prizes at the Laureus Sports Awards.

Nadal was named Sportsman of the Year after a remarkable season in which he won the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open trophies while Spain's World Cup side were named Team of the Year at a glittering ceremony attended by celebrities and sporting greats.

"It's an honor, in my name, that of my colleagues and the Spanish soccer federation, to receive this award from the world of sport," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said in a live feed to the awards ceremony from the team's training base outside Madrid.

American Alpine skier Lindsay Vonn, who won the Olympic downhill gold at the Vancouver Games last February just days after suffering a shin injury, was voted Sportswoman of the Year.

Spain, the United States and Germany were the big winners with each country bagging two awards.

There was a rapturous welcome for French soccer great Zinedine Zidane, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his remarkable career.

The Spirit of Sport Award was presented to the European Ryder Cup Team to mark their emotional win over the United States in a match "which demonstrated great sportsmanship, golf played at the highest level and enormous and passionate galleries," a statement from the organizers said.

The Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognize sporting achievement, are the premier honors on the international sporting calendar.

Double Oscar winner Kevin Spacey hosted the event attended by celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment.

The Awards were announced in seven categories. The winners were:

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: Rafael Nadal (Spain)

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year: Lindsey Vonn (US)

Laureus World Team of the Year: Spain World Cup Team

Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year: Martin Kaymer (Germany)

Laureus World Comeback of the Year: Valentino Rossi (Italy)

Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Verena Bentele (Germany)

Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater (US)

The Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award: Zinedine Zidane (France)

Laureus Spirit of Sport Award: European Ryder Cup Team

Laureus Sport for Good Award: May El-Khalil, founder of the Beirut Marathon

 

The Spanish team lift the coveted World Cup trophy in 2010

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World champions Spain looking for showdown with Brazil

Spain captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas

Photo: Reuters

Spain want to pit their wits as World Cup winners against record five-times champions Brazil, captain Iker Casillas said on Monday.

"The team I haven't had the chance to meet and would like to face are Brazil," the goalkeeper told a news conference ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Argentina at River Plate's Monumental stadium (2000 GMT).

"We would love to play a match with Brazil," said Casillas, his face lighting up. "I think the last (meeting of the sides) dates back 12 years."

Spain met twice world champions Argentina, Brazil's arch rivals, as recently as last November in a friendly the home team won 2-1 in Madrid.

Casillas said his team could not afford to rest on their laurels as they faced a 2012 qualifying campaign where they are defending their European championship title.

He said friendlies like Tuesday's against Argentina were important for Spain to keep progressing, saying: "It's the first time we've travelled so much for a friendly but it's well worth it".

Spain played their opening Euro qualifier in Liechtenstein on Friday, recording a 4-0 win, and flew about 15 hours to Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Coach Vicente del Bosque said: "The worst that could happen to us is to get comfortable and think ourselves kings of the world.

"Now we've finished with the objective of winning a World Cup and we're preparing to validate our European title."

Not favorites

Del Bosque said Spain were not favorites on Tuesday.

"I think Argentina are in a position to be able to beat us," said Del Bosque, whose side scored a stoppage-time equalizer to draw 1-1 in Mexico last month in their first match since lifting the World Cup.

"They have an organized game and they have talent, if the two things work they will be on a level with our team. We're not so far apart."

Del Bosque said Argentina had moved on from the World Cup in South Africa where former coach Diego Maradona's team were beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarterfinals in July.

Tacitly praising new coach Sergio Batista, whose first match was a 1-0 win in Dublin last month, he said: "From what I saw against Ireland they have that pause and possession in midfield and change of acceleration through the forwards to give their attacking game movement".

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