Roy Hodgson has today spoken of his pride in seeing two Liverpool players holding aloft the World Cup inside the Soccer City Stadium on Sunday night.

Hodgson was just one of over 700 million viewers who tuned in to see Andres Iniesta's 116th-minute goal spark wild celebrations from a Spain squad including Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and former Anfield favourite Xabi Alonso.

And while it was our Spanish pair who left South Africa with winners' medals around their necks, the fact that Spain were up against a Holland squad including Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel in the final meant that Liverpool simply couldn't lose - regardless of the result, two Reds players were always going to strike gold.

"As Liverpool manager, I take great pride in the fact that two of our players can call themselves World Cup winners this summer," Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Unfortunately, one team had to lose that final and while my commiserations go out to the Dutch lads, I have to say congratulations to Fernando and Pepe. Winning the World Cup is the ultimate honour any player can have in international football and you could see what it meant to both players as soon as the celebrations started.

"I think it's safe to say the pictures of Fernando in the dressing room with the World Cup certainly went down well with our fans but the club can be proud of all the players who went away to the World Cup.

"To have four players reach the final is an incredible achievement and I look forward to working with them when they return to Melwood after their holidays."

Video: Pepe leads Spain celebrations>>