The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Argentina

World number one Rafael Nadal may not have been present in body but Spain plugged into his never-say-die spirit to win the Davis Cup here Sunday, according to defeated Argentine skipper Alberto Mancini.

Nadal, champion with Spain in 2004 on home clay, sat this one out with a knee injury, but Mancini said that stroke of ill- fortune only spurred on his compatriots, who secured a 3-1 success when Fernando Verdasco beat Jose Aacasuso in five sets.

"The Spanish were worthy opponents and played very well. The absence of Nadal only united them all the more," insisted Mancini. "We have a lot to learn from this experience."

Nadal saluted his compatriots, telling Spanish television:"It's an unforgettable moment and they have made history. Fernando was brilliant - absolutely amazing from the fourth set."

Verdasco repaid the compliment. "It's thanks to him we were in the final," the left-hander said.

As the Spanish 'armada' showed their strength in depth with Verdasco and fellow hero Feliciano Lopez, Argentina suffered one injury too many when their top singles player Juan Martin Del Potro injured his groin in going down to Lopez in Friday's singles.

"Argentina suffered because we had two very competitive singles players (with David Nalbandian thrashing David Ferrer to get the hosts off to a winning start) - only for Juan Martin not to be fully fit," Mancini lamented.

"That was an important factor. And one of the others was Spain, who played well."

Acasuso insisted it was not stamina which let him down in his 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 loss in 3hr 56min to Verdasco.

"I felt good physically - otherwise I would not have gone out there on court," insisted Acasuso, who called the trainer to treat apparent stomach cramp as his hopes began to slip away in the last two sets. It was the doubles which helped to do for the Argentines.

In the last 36 years of Davis Cup finals, only three times have the doubles victors not gone on to win the title.

And that statistic held up as the Lopez-Verdasco tandem saw off Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri Saturday in a five- setter.

"It's sad we've lost another final," said Acasuso noting earlier losses in Russia in 2006 and away to the United States in 1981.

"There was a lot of sadness in the locker room after the loss and the fact that three of the four of us lost to Russia two years ago means that the pain was double."

The South Americans had fervently hoped this would finally be their year on home hardcourt but it was not to be.

For the Spanish, the pleasure was heightened after few believed they would come through without Nadal.

"It's like a dream come true - it's the most beautiful day of my life," beamed Verdasco, who wrapped up the contest on his third match point before embracing his squadmates as the home crowd looked on aghast.

Spanish skipper Emilio Sanchez Vicario paid tribute to his man.

"It was an incredible match - all the guys were so nervous. Fernando was just the better player - he's very strong," said Sanchez Vicario, who said his squad would get through "a lot of wine" at their post-match party.

Mancini meanwhile laughed off reports that the team had fallen out with one another after the doubles loss.

"That's just ridiculous," he told reporters. "It's tough to take - we were close in the doubles but we didn't manage it."