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EURO 2008: Ecstatic Spanish soccer fans take over central Madrid

Tens of thousands of ecstatic Spanish fans danced and chanted “Viva Espana” in central Madrid late on Sunday as the country’s first major international soccer trophy in 44 years sparked a nationwide fiesta.

The capital was awash with the red and gold national colors, as the country celebrated the 1-0 Euro 2008 win over Germany in true Spanish style — by partying late into the night.

The deafening sounds of cheering, klaxons and firecrackers from the vast Plaza Colon, where fans watched the match live from Vienna on giant television screens, mixed with those of car horns across the city.

Police estimated the crowd at 65,000 in and around the square.

Many were wrapped in the Spanish flag, wore red team shirts or red wigs, or had their faces painted red and gold.

Emergency services said 90 people were treated by medics, mostly for fainting and minor injuries, but one was taken to hospital with a fractured skull.

Police fired warning shots at some fans who had thrown bottles on the street in front of them, a reporter said. There was no sign of injuries and it was not clear if the police used rubber bullets or blanks.

Hundreds of police also struggled to keep traffic moving as exuberant and intoxicated fans spilled out of the square onto the Paseo de Recoletos avenue, one of the city’s main arteries that leads to the Plaza Cibeles, where Real Madrid supporters traditionally hold their celebrations.

“We are the best and now we’re ready to win the World Cup,” said Joaquin, 48, who had come with his family from the western city of Salamanca.

“The team played well, they were united and concentrated,” he said, naming Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas and Cesc Fabregas as the best players.

“It’s so many years since we even got past the quarter-finals and now we’ve won, I can’t believe it,” said Dani, 19, a student from Madrid who came with several friends.

King Juan Carlos, who attended the match with Queen Sofia and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said the Spanish players “suffered, but in the end it was worth it.”

“It has been very emotional,” he told Spanish television channel Cuatro after visiting the team in the changing room. “I am happy for the team, for the guys, for Spain.”

Zapatero said the team “deserved to win.”

“But this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come. We have to go for the World Cup now,” he told Cuatro from Vienna after congratulating the squad.

The excitement had mounted throughout the day in Madrid as high-spirited fans partied in the Plaza Colon hours ahead of kick-off amid soaring temperatures that reached 38慢.

Others crammed into bars or gathered at home, with the TV audience predicted to surpass the record of 17 million, or an 84 percent market share, set during the semi-final against Russia.

“Spain conquers Europe and opens a new era in Spanish football,” the headline in Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo said yesterday.

A win against Italy last week ended what was seen as a “curse,” in which Spain had lost three times on penalties in the quarter-finals of major competitions, and on the same date, June 22. In Thursday’s semi-final, they demolished Russia 3-0.

“Finally! Spain put an end to their dark football legend,” ran the headline of the conservative daily ABC.
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