Celebrations in Spain
Over 300 000 people thronged the streets of Madrid, some chanting “Iniesta Presidente! Iniesta Presidente!” as they watched the final between Spain and Netherlands on big screen TVs at Paseo de Recoletos Boulevard. They had seen history in the making at the final whistle as Spain became the world and European champions.
The celebrations that followed were probably the biggest that anyone could remember in the history of Spain, as fireworks lit up the sky and exuberant parties jammed the many town squares across the nation from Zaragoza in the northeast to Seville in the southwest.
“You are an example of sportsmanship, nobility, good play and team work,” said the king. Team members then travelled to government headquarters, where they were greeted by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, ministers and hundreds of ecstatic children invited to the event. This win had given the elated Spaniards a break from months of economic gloom and political squabbling.
Captain Iker Casillas said the victory meant “Spain’s name will be on top of the world for the next four years.” Spain had never before gone past the quarterfinals and this victory had brought to an end a 44-year title drought. One banner amid the masses in downtown Madrid read “Octopus Paul, Forever!” with a picture of the octopus from Germany, who had forecast Spain’s victory.
The dominated the country’s media, with newspapers paying tribute to the first Spanish team to claim football’s most prestigious trophy and television stations replaying Iniesta’s winning goal over and over.
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