| 30.06.2008 |
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While it isn't the first time that Spain have won the European Championship, it is the first time that I have actually got a prediction right. Spain were my tip for the title from the off but saying that, it was a prediction made not entirely by the head and more than a bit from the heart. Despite not having a national team of my own in Euro 2008, I must say that I was not devoid of the angst which goes along with following your team through a tournament. The final especially was a division of loyalties. I wanted Spain to win because I had tipped them to, they played great soccer at times, my favorite players were in the team and they were cool. On the other hand, I wouldn't have been too sad had Germany won - which is a huge statement coming from a Englishman. Germany was my home for a few years, my partner is German and I work for a German company. It seemed a little traitorous to turn my back on the people who enhance my personal and professional life (not to mention, pay my wages). But living in a country for a while should at least sew the seeds of some kind of loyalty - otherwise why stick around for so long? So for me, Germany were like the home team. Besides, I thought the group of players Jogi Loew had put together - and the man himself - deserved a bit of glory. As it happens, that wasn't meant to be and so while I have a lot of sympathy for the Germans I know and love and the country as a whole in this difficult time, I'm actually quite pleased with the outcome. I'm not the only one if the newspaper I picked up on the train back to Brussels is anything to go by. The Dutch press was practically giddy with joy that Germany had failed at the final hurdle, even going so far as to thank Fernando Torres for scoring the goal which beat the Germans.  The English press gave Germany the odd cursory mention in a breath about the losing team but most of the copy was dedicated, unsurprisingly, to Torres and Spain. After claiming the Liverpool striker as their own, the papers again tried to claim some pride for the absent England from his success and Spain's victory. Torres and Cesc Fabregas, both of whom started the game, play for English Premiership sides, so they are (until Spain meet England, presumably) honorary Englishmen - which in "Tabloid" means England helped Spain win the trophy. England aside, everyone else knows very well who won Euro 2008. Spain are champions of Europe after 44 years without a trophy. It may have been a surprise to some...but I knew it all along! |
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| 1 Comment |
| Germany's loss to Spain was deserved, but painful. ''It's been emotional.'' |
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| Siddiq Tanko | Homepage | E-Mail | 02.07.2008, 11:28 | ||