Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera has dedicated his international strike for Spain this week to the memory of the late Espanyol player Daniel Jarque.
Jarque, a former team-mate of Riera's at the Catalan outfit, passed away unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack after a training session. He was just 26 years old.
Spain has been in mourning this week as the nation pays it's last respects to the centre-back.
The Liverpool winger scored in Spain's 3-2 victory over Macedonia on Wednesday night and told the Reds' official website, "My goal is for Dani, for his family, and for everyone associated with Espanyol.
"It was a goal that meant a lot, over and above the result. For me it was very important due to the desire that I had to score in this game. I can assure that this goal came from the soul.
"I wasn't only thinking [about scoring], but that's that I was hoping for. I've thought a lot about Dani and about scoring a goal for him."
The entire national squad paid their respect to Jarque before the friendly by donning shirts bearing Jarque's name and squad number prior to a minute's applause in his honour.
The defender's tragic death came just one month after he had been named captain for the upcoming season.
Jarque, a former team-mate of Riera's at the Catalan outfit, passed away unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack after a training session. He was just 26 years old.
Spain has been in mourning this week as the nation pays it's last respects to the centre-back.
The Liverpool winger scored in Spain's 3-2 victory over Macedonia on Wednesday night and told the Reds' official website, "My goal is for Dani, for his family, and for everyone associated with Espanyol.
"It was a goal that meant a lot, over and above the result. For me it was very important due to the desire that I had to score in this game. I can assure that this goal came from the soul.
"I wasn't only thinking [about scoring], but that's that I was hoping for. I've thought a lot about Dani and about scoring a goal for him."
The entire national squad paid their respect to Jarque before the friendly by donning shirts bearing Jarque's name and squad number prior to a minute's applause in his honour.
The defender's tragic death came just one month after he had been named captain for the upcoming season.
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