By Mark Elkington
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's nailbiting Davis Cup final triumph over Argentina was hailed as a team victory in adversity by local media on Monday.
"The Invincible Armada" was the front page headline on sports daily Marca while daily El Mundo said: "The Plan B was made of gold."
Much was made of the side's ability to overcome the last-minute withdrawal of world number one Rafael Nadal through injury, and captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario's motivational skills.
Sanchez Vicario had been criticised in the media for not having a 'Plan B' after Nadal ruled himself out, when he called up the debutant Marcel Granollers in his place.
He then sprung another surprise when he replaced the out-of-form team number one David Ferrer with Fernando Verdasco for the clinching match against Jose Acasuso on Sunday, which Verdasco took 6-3 6-7 4-6 6-3 6-1.
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A total of seven players have been involved in their four Davis Cup ties to earn victories against Peru, Germany, the United States and Argentina.
"(Sanchez Vicario) knew how to create this team spirit among all the players. I am just one more player in the squad and he has proved that," Nadal told Spanish state television after watching the final back home.
El Mundo recalled other recent sporting triumphs where Spanish teams have overcome the loss of a key player for the final.
Spain's gold medal final performance at the basketball world championship in 2006 was achieved without injured tournament MVP Pau Gasol, and the football team's Euro 2008 final victory came with top scorer David Villa also out injured.
Spain's third Davis Cup win capped a glorious year for the country, prompting El Pais to crow "Spain is Sport."
Sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky said: "I want to congratulate the Davis Cup team for this latest achievement for Spanish sport, in what has been without doubt the country's greatest year in sporting terms."
After winning Euro 2008, their first major trophy in 44 years, the Spanish football team hit the top of the FIFA world rankings and won wide praise for their attractive brand of attacking football.
Nadal replaced Roger Federer as the world number one in tennis, winning the French Open, Wimbledon and gold at the Beijing Olympics.
Cyclist Alberto Contador won the Giro D'Italia and the Tour of Spain to become the first rider in 25 years to win all three of cycling's major races. He won the Tour de France in 2007 while compatriot Carlos Sastre won the race this year.
(Editing by Miles Evans)
