International Career
Capdevila made his debut for Spain on 16 October 2002 against Paraguay in a 0–0 draw. He scored his first international goal in an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden, on 17 November 2007, as Spain won 3–0. Previously, he made the nation's final squad for Euro 2004, but did not leave the bench.
On 6 February 2008, in Málaga, Capdevila scored the winning goal in Spain's 1–0 win against France in an international friendly. He was subsequently called up to Spain's squad for Euro 2008, where he featured in all the matches save one for the eventual champions. During the tournament he established himself as first-choice, his clearance in the dying seconds against Sweden being a crucial part of David Villa's late winner to make the score 2–1. Together with right-back Sergio Ramos and central defenders Carles Puyol and Carlos Marchena, he helped keep clean sheets during all three matches of the knock-out stages and only conceded two goals in four matches.
During the first game of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup on 14 June 2009, Capdevila set up Fernando Torres's third goal of his hat-trick, and also assisted for Cesc Fàbregas's second international goal, as Spain thrashed New Zealand 5–0. In fact, all five goals were created from the left wing, with Capdevila playing a crucial part in the Spanish attack. In the second game against Iraq three days later, he assisted Villa's 55th-minute goal, as Spain defeated Iraq 1–0. He, Puyol, Villa and Torres were named in the team of the tournament, as Spain finished third.
On 20 May 2010, after appearing in all the matches during the qualifying stages, contributing with one goal in Spain's 4–0 home win against Armenia, Capdevila was selected by manager Vicente del Bosque to the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he played all the matches and minutes for the eventual champions, being the only member of the starting line-up for the final who was not a Real Madrid or FC Barcelona player, considering Villa had been signed by the latter days before the tournament.
Read more about this topic: Joan Capdevila
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“I began my editorial career with the presidency of Mr. Adams, and my principal object was to render his administration all the assistance in my power. I flattered myself with the hope of accompanying him through [his] voyage, and of partaking in a trifling degree, of the glory of the enterprise; but he suddenly tacked about, and I could follow him no longer. I therefore waited for the first opportunity to haul down my sails.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)