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Madrid
revels in Spanish triumph
Euro 2008 champions Spain have arrived home to a heroes’
welcome from about one million ecstatic fans in Madrid.
They arrived at Madrid Barajas airport in a plane with
“Campeones” (champions) written on it. They
then paraded the Henri Delaunay trophy on an open-top
bus on their way to a packed Plaza de Colon.
As the bus travelled down Madrid’s main Paseo de
la Castellana avenue the crowd chanted “Si, si,
si la copa ya esta aqui” (yes, yes, the cup is
now here).
The crowd also chanted “Luis quedate!” (Luis
stay), in a plea to 69-year-old coach Luis Aragones
to reverse his decision to quit.
Journalists travelling on the team plane said the players
had also encouraged him to continue.
Captain Iker Casillas told the packed crowd “this
cup is yours” as the team joined the celebrating
fans.
“We’re just starting to become aware of what
we have achieved,” Casillas screamed to the crowd.
We were really motivated to get back here to share this.”
The Madrid keeper then handed the microphone to the
“one man who got us where we are today, Luis Aragones”.
Even the normally downbeat Aragones was caught up in
the moment and joined the singing of “A Por Ellos”
(“Let’s Go Get Them”), which has been
one of the team’s theme songs since the 2006 World
Cup.
“If I couldn’t manage the quality of players
that we have here, then it would be impossible to win
the Euro. Why? Because we have the best team in the
world,” said Aragones.
Sunday’s 1-0 win over Germany, courtesy of a goal
from Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, gave Spain their
first major tournament victory in 44 years - they claimed
the 1964 European Championship by defeating the Soviet
Union.
Earlier, German fans turned out in huge numbers despite
seeing their side slip to defeat to welcome their players
home when they arrived back in Berlin on Monday.
An estimated 300,000 people were in front of the Brandenburg
Gates, after 600,000 fans had cheered their country
on the night before.
“I don’t think we’d have gone so far
without these great fans,” said captain Michael
Ballack.
“We all saw the TV pictures of what was going on
back here and it felt like we had an extra man on the
pitch all the time.” – [BBC]
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