Johannesburg dawned cold, but sunny. Thousands of Africans They were reaching the capital of South Africa from all corners of the continent. They were going to be the army of the Selection in Soccer City, where few Spaniards that had been able to come from our country would be noticed later among the almost 95,000 spectators of the final, Nelson Mandela among them.
After a very hard match Against the Netherlands, with overtime included, Spain made history by winning their first World Cup and also by being the first team to do so after losing their debut game in the tournament. Germany, in the 82nd World Cup; Argentina, in Italy 90; and Italy, in the United States 94, they reached the final after fall in the first encounter, but then they lost it.
But the Spanish people they did not go with that idea, far from it. Left him mvery clear the captain, Boxes: “No compatriot wants to be second, and neither do I“he said before the final in which he would become, as always during his career in the National Team, uGuardian angel.
But the best of the win the final was the joy of a country. On social networks, groups had been formed that asked to declare a National Holiday on July 11, in order to 'burn' the night that Sunday. Hundreds of thousands of fans took to the Spanish streets in an explosion of joy never remembered before.
Santander, Las Palmas, Barcelona, Cádiz, Bilbao, Valencia, Seville, Cuenca, A Coruña, Oviedo, Teruel, Badajoz, Palma de Mallorca, Murcia … all Spain held in the squares, in large and small streets, the South African star. It was irrepressible, and the most exciting experience in the country so far this century. They lived the title party even in Lebanon, where a detachment of spanish soldiers it vibrated from a distance, but with the same passion. Any Spanish anywhere in the world celebrated the World Cup, and was noted.
And the biggest party was yet to come. Why the Selection returned to Spain after the game. He landed at Madrid airport at noon on Monday, July 12, 2010. The capital's firefighters arched water on the Air Europa plane, and from the Airbus you could see the Barajas employees on the roofs of hangars and buildings, with the flags of Spain. Del Bosque was the first to get off the plane, and exclaimed in surprise “the one who has become involved”.
Then would come the walk through Madrid, with the World Cup, in a convertible bus. 'La Rua' which was followed again by fans from all over Spain, again with thousands of followers in the streets and squares. The party and celebrations lasted three days. Although later many more, in hundreds of tributes and celebrations by all the streets of Spain. So many were the commitments that the Federation ordered a replica of the trophy. He original reserved for big dates. For example, to be offered on the main altar of the Cathedral of Santiago to the patron saint of Spain, almost nothing. But of all that today ten years have passed …