Passion
Passion
Most Spaniards are passionate about soccer, here called “fútbol,’ especially when their team wins the prestigious Europe Cup, only a notch below the World Cup. This is real “football,” they would say, played with the feet, as opposed to the American version, which is actually played more with the hands.
I'd wondered, watching one of the first games, why the players didn't sing the national anthem before the game started. They line the players of both teams up and play the national anthems of both teams. The Italians, the Russians, the Germans, the Turks - all of them sang lustily - some more on key than others! But none of the Spanish players sang. I thought they had problems. Turns out the problem was that the Spanish national anthem doesn't have words! They haven't yet come to agreement on what the words should be.
At any rate, Spain advanced handily through group play, then faced Italy in the quarterfinals, whom they hadn’t beaten in more than 80 yrs. It came down to penalty kicks after two exhausting overtimes. Spain’s goalie blocked two kicks, and they won. The family members we were staying with north of Madrid were ecstatic!
Then after a thorough drubbing of Russia in the semifinals, Spain was up against the Germans in the final game. It began at 8:45 on Sunday evening. Few people were in the streets. But at 10:30 horns started honking, fireworks went off, people took to the streets. Spain had won 1-0.
We went out to see what was happening – people of all ages out on the streets, blowing horns, brandishing Spanish flags – in general, a big-time celebration. This is what happened to one pretty fountain.
Before
During the celebration – the fountain drew revelers as meat draws flies.
Afterward. It took some 18,000 euros to replace the damaged tubing, lights, flowers and shrubbery around the fountain. Was it worth it? You be the judge!
This was the front page of the newspaper two days later, when the team arrived back in Madrid. One million people thronged the streets to see them.
Passion – will Spaniards someday be as passionate about Jesus?