SUR

They say that a financial crisis has a lot to do with psychology and that one of the reasons why the recession has hit so hard in Spain is the collective sense of disaster. A depressed people does not spend or invest and hides away to wait for better times to come along. Could winning the World Cup be what they were waiting for? It is clearly only a passing phase but on Monday the whole of Spain was exultant. A carefree, radiant and euphoric nation invaded the streets to celebrate their team’s victory.

Madrid city centre was a sea of red as well over a million people from all over Spain waited in the streets in searing heat for their heroes to pass by in their open-topped bus. Monday’s celebration was the biggest party yet in the history of a country famous for its ‘fiestas’. The numbers of people in the streets well exceeded the forecasts of the organisers of the occasion who watched as the players’ bus had difficulty winding its way through the multitude. At one point messages were even sent out advising people who may have been thinking of joining the party to stay at home. Inevitably the day’s events slipped way behind schedule, but the long wait for the crowds in the streets was alleviated by singing, dancing and a few helpful and cooling buckets of water from balconies above.

“Oh if only we could be this united for other causes, such as finding a solution to the crisis”, mused one of the fans in the crowd, while others admitted that they didn’t really like football but were not going to miss the historic celebrations for the world.

“They are an example for the kids”, said one parent who had taken the day off to accompany his son for the celebration. “They’re not just great footballers but they’re a good bunch of guys”, he added, repeating a view shared by people all over the nation.

When the bus finally did find its way through the crowds cheers went up for all the players, who at least for the last month or so have been bound together as one ‘La Roja’. Seeing them celebrating together on Monday, it was hard to believe that in just a few weeks’ time the group will be split, with this week’s companions, Casillas and Puyol, facing each other as captains of Spain’s biggest rivals, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The players were accompanied by manager Vicente del Bosque, who was joined by Álvaro, his Down Syndrome son. Álvaro had begged his father on countless occasions to allow him to meet Iniesta, Xavi, Cesc and company, however Del Bosque, respectful of the code that states that no one from outside the group is allowed in the changing room, had always refused. He did promise however that if Spain won the World Cup Álvaro would ride with them on their triumphant tour of Madrid and on Monday Del Bosque admitted that on this one occasion he was going to break the protocol to make his son’s dream come true.

The euphoric players didn’t disappoint the crowds, although they did show signs of tiredness. After all, in the space of just 24 hours, they had won the world’s most important football match, celebrated for much of the night, flown all the way from South Africa, visited the King and Queen and the Prime Minister before boarding the bus that was slowly crawling through an ocean of red and yellow flags. But they still had a long night ahead of them. After the bus ride the players disembarked onto an enormous stage to greet the thousands of fans across the Río Manzanares who had been entertained by singers and comedians while they waited for their heroes.