King and prime minister thank Spain's World Cup heroes (2nd Lead)

Jul 12, 2010, 18:02 GMT

Madrid - Spain's World Cup heroes were formally received on Monday by King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, ahead of a triumphant bus parade through Madrid's euphoric streets.

Spain won their first World Cup by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in an ill-tempered final in Johannesburg on Sunday, thanks to an extra-time goal from Andres Iniesta.

Their victory flight from Johannesburg arrived in Madrid three hours behind schedule.

Hundreds of delighted fans went out to Madrid's Barajas airport to welcome their heroes home, but Iniesta and company were quickly driven off to the Zarzuela royal palace for an official audience with King Juan Carlos.

The king, a keen sports fan, was unable to attend the final because he is recovering from a lung operation.

He told the players that 'you are an example to all of us, an example to the new generations of nobility, of team-work and of fighting spirit. Thank you, champions, in the name of the royal family and of all Spaniards.'

After the royal audience the players went to the Moncloa palace, seat of the government, to receive the thanks of premier Zapatero.

Afterwards there will be a victory parade through the streets of the capital, with around three million fans expected to turn out to greet Vicente del Bosque's team.

The parade will start in Moncloa, then continue through key parts of the capital before finishing late on Monday with a celebration in the Puente del Rey, on the banks of the Manzanares river.