SPANIARDS DON’T need many excuses for a party, but the 2010 World Cup has given them even more reason than usual.
They had a short hiccup after the first game when the national team, known as La Roja, or the Reds, suffered an embarrassing defeat to Switzerland. But, since then, patriotic fervour has escalated as each game brought them ever closer to their first final tomorrow when they take on the Netherlands.
Red and yellow Spanish national flags appeared in ever-increasing numbers on balconies and car aerials. Even in Catalonia, where it is rare to see a Spanish flag, many have put aside their own flag for a couple of weeks and joined in the Spanish patriotism. After all, Barcelona has seven of its players in the national team.
La Rojago into the game as favourites – even Paul the psychic octopus has tipped Spain to win – and the party spirit is heating up to fever pitch.
They had their dress rehearsal on Wednesday when they defeated Germany in the semi-finals. The streets across the country were silent except for areas where giant screens had been erected to show the game.
Even in Pamplona where the bull-running fiesta is at its height revellers set aside their partying for a couple of hours.
Every shot at goal was greeted with loud cheers or groans and the sound was deafening when Carles Puyol scored for Spain in the second half.
Then, when the final whistle blew, the country exploded with supporters sounding their car horns, cheering and blowing vuvuzelas, which have already become a best-selling item. Few people got much sleep that night.
Madrid has announced it has been been forced to move the giant screens from the esplanade outside Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium to make more space in the main avenue nearby.
The city’s two emblematic fountains, the Goddess Cibeles and King Neptune, are already draped in huge Spanish flags.
Queen Sofia of Spain was in Durban for the semi-finals dressed entirely in red, cheering enthusiastically from the stands.
After the final whistle, she paid a surprise visit to the dressing-room to congratulate the players and was obviously highly amused to find them in various states of undress – particularly an embarrassed Puyol who emerged from the shower draped in nothing but a towel.
The queen, who as a child spent six years in exile in South Africa with her parents, the former king and queen of Greece, is staying on for the final in Johannesburg where she will be joined by the crown prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia. King Juan Carlos, who recently had an operation on his lung and cannot fly, has sent his best wishes to the team.
But win or lose, Madrid is already planning its celebrations.
The main avenue will be closed to traffic from tomorrow until Monday, and then when the team get home, with or without the trophy, they will be driven around the city in an open-topped bus. Another all night-party is scheduled, and another sleepless nights for Madrilenos.