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PERSONALITY
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Juan Mata
Laureus.com speaks to the Laureus
Ambassadorabouthistakeonthe2014
WorldCup.
B
orn
in the town of Ocón de
Villafranca, Burgos, 26-year-old
Juan Manuel Mata García – com-
monly known as Juan Mata – is a
Spanish footballer who plays for
English club Manchester United
and also a member of the prelimi-
nary 30-strong Spanish squad for the World Cup.
Inheriting his name from his father who was also
a footballer, it’s no surprise that tackling the game
comes all natural to Juan. Starting his football career
at Real Oviedo, where his father spent most of his
career, Juan made his World Cup debut in 2010 with
a 2-0 Group H victory over Honduras. The Spanish
team won the World Cup that year and here’s what
Juan has to say about his experience.
What makes theWorld Cup so special?
The World Cup is the most important competition.
When you are a football player and you want to
play for your country, you always dream to play in a
World Cup. This year, it’s in Brazil, a proper football
country, and for us it would be a dream to go there
and to try to win again.
Youwerepartof the2010WorldCup inSouthAfricaas
averyyoungplayer.Whatareyourmemoriesof that?
It’s probably the best memories I’ve had in my career
so far; winning the World Cup for the first time for
Spain and being part of the squad was probably
one of the best moment in my career and in my life.
Are you hoping to play a bigger role for Spain in the
2014World Cup?
I don’t know. I think it’s a privilege for every player
to be here, in the 23 that travel to the World Cup,
and I will try my best as I always did.