Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Semi Final - Spain v France - Munich Football Arena, Munich, Germany - July 9, 2024 Spain's Jesus Navas celebrates after the match REUTERS/Leonhard Simon/ File Photo
BERLIN (Reuters) - Spain's Jesus Navas is retiring at the end of the year and has been nursing a hip injury for about five seasons, but nothing will stop the 38-year-old going into battle for one last big trophy in Sunday's Euro 2024 final against England.
Navas, who has been with the team for 15 years, is the last remaining player of Spain's golden generation that won the world and European titles more than a decade ago.
A World Cup winner in 2010 and a European champion two years later, Navas, who is retiring in December, wants to cap a sensational career with another title.
"I have been having a problem with my hip for four or five years but playing... for my country is everything for me," Navas told a press conference on Saturday.
"Afterwards everything hurts but it is about giving it all you have on the day, to be the same person with the same kind of humility."
The defender spoke to the media on the eve of the final instead of captain Alvaro Morata after it was decided that it should be the veteran's moment in the spotlight.
"He (Morata) said it was the right moment for me to be in front of the press. After all the finals I have reached this could be my last game for Spain and I really appreciate it."
Spain are slight favourites for the final in the Olympiastadion, having won all six of their matches in Germany so far, scoring 13 goals in the process with an attractive brand of football.
"I just want to leave everything on the pitch. You have to die for every moment here, for your team and your country. It is the biggest thing and I am so proud of that," Navas said.
As for any similarities to the Spain team that won back-to-back Euros in 2008 and 2012 along with the World Cup, Navas said it was the squad's togetherness.
"I would like to highlight the unity back then, on and off the pitch, and it is the same thing here," he said. "The relationship is fantastic. I hope we can make it happen. It would be fantastic for the team and our country."
Victory on Sunday would see Spain earn a record-breaking fourth European crown, but Navas said it was crucial to remain humble.
"England are a huge team with world class players. It will be very difficult. It's a final and we know how complicated it is to win a title. We are facing a great rival but are thinking about ourselves, trying to play the same way."
"We feel exactly the same way as in previous games. The same eagerness, the same excitement and the same confidence," he said.
"That's the right way. To play beautiful football. What brought us here was humility and keeping our feet on the ground."
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)
