Press laud historic victory

SPAIN’S first major trophy for 44 years sent the country into raptures on Sunday night with the following day’s press continuing the frenzied celebrations.

Newspapers from both Madrid and Barcelona could not use enough superlatives as they proclaimed that justice had finally been done.

“It’s not a dream any more, it’s a reality, we are the champions,” screamed the headline in Marca followed by an asterisk and a subtitle explaining: “today there are no buts” – referring to the headline after the semi-final which cautiously declared them the best.

Marca dedicated its entire 62-page edition to the victory and inside the exclamations continued. “Kings of Europe!!!” they said, before proudly declaring that Spain’s win was for the good of football.

“It has happened, you don’t need to rub your eyes, it’s true, we are champions of Europe,” they continued.

“Finally justice has been done and we have seen the best football be rewarded with a title.”

Madrid rivals AS were just as effusive. “We are champions!” declared a doublefront page filled with pictures of last night’s celebrations.

Inside they once again attempted the poetic as one page crowned Luis Aragones’men “Seducers of Europe” before continuing “For once football was fair. Theworld has fallen into place, Spain triumphed. Football won.”

“Spain conquers Europe,” read El Mundo Deportivo’s front page above a one-word headline — “Champions!!!”

The name of every member of the Spain squad ran around the border, while a smaller headline foresaw the match as a turning point for Spanish football.

“Torres’ historic goal has opened a new era in Spanish football,” it read.

Catalan newspaper Sport were moved by the victory, although they made sure their front page proclaimed “You are the Champions”.

The main article inside was also notably different. Somewhat cold and lacking in emotion it described the match, agreeing that yes, the best football had won,but that it was no surprise as Spain were the favourites not the romantic underdogs.

The only fleeting sense of emotion occurred at the end of the report as they compared Spain with the Barcelona team that triumphed in the 2006 Champions League.

“The European Championship rewarded the team who offered the best football.... a Spain with the best of the Barca team which marvelled two or three seasons ago.”

Sport also reserved special praise for Barcelona duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta and Catalan player Cesc Fabregas, with a whole article on how the graduates from Barca’s youth academy had turned the team around following the declaration“Barca has changed Spain”.