All week long it’s been wet and rainy in much of [allegedly always] Sunny Spain—perhaps one last ja! ja! from the weather gods before the unrelenting hot hot heat of a Madrileño summer—but that hasn’t stopped Madrid from becoming swept up in the storm of World Cup madness. Newspaper kiosks on every corner are selling la bandera Española for 1€ a pop and even Burger King has Spanish scarves on offer.
But with every World Cup that comes, we are reminded that Spain has suffered its share of heartbreak and disappointment—Michels’ “gol fantasma” in Mexico ’86, pobrecito Enrique’s broken nose in USA ’94 and the disallowed goals in Japan-South Korea ’02. For years Spain has been synonymous with underachievement and disappoint on the global playing field. However for the first time in recent memory, it seems the whole world is finally looking to Spain to win the World Cup—but ask anyone here what they think of la Selección Española’s chances are of finally bringing the Copa Mundial home after it has eluded us for years, and chances are it will be answered with typical Spanish circumspect character:
Says Juan of Madrid, quoting Deus Dixit of Manifiesto Futurista, ¡En pie sobre la cima del mundo lanzamos una vez más el reto a las estrellas! [Roughly translating to, Spain is at the top of their game at the moment, but once again we face the challenge of the other Soccer Superstars of the world.] Juan went on to say that he believes Spain to have the best team they have ever had, but hesitates when asked if Spain are the favorites—”nobody can say it’s going to be easy, nor has it already been decided.”
Jesús, also of Madrid, counters with: “I see Spain as weak—in the Selección Española there are very good players, but together as a team? I do not know how they’ll work together…” It goes without saying that Jesús later confided that he is not much of fútbol fan. Duh.
So how has Spain shaken this so-called perennial underachiever tag? Besides winning the Eurocup in 2008—our first major award in over 40 years—many point to the “Generation Barça”—players who currently play for Barcelona or have gone through the ranks of FC Barcelona’s cantera
Being the staunch Real Madrid fan I am, my cule primo cheekily asked, “Is your joy going to be ruined at all knowing it’s FC Barcelona winning for Spain?” To which I think I can speak for all of Spain when I say, “Barcelona, Madrid, wherever—we are all united during the World Cup.” Even Xavi agrees, proclaiming he is not just of Barcelona and will dye his hair the resplendent colors of the Spanish flag if Spain does indeed go on to win the World Cup. While I feeeeel Spain, I’ll stick to showing my love with my freshly painted yellow manicure.
In other Spain news, the prodigal son El Niño Torres has returned! Cannot wait to see the yin-yang of the strike force of Torres and David Vill, tempered by the ebb and flow of passes from Xavi and the infamous Spanish midfield. The rumored XI to start:
Villa-Torres
Busquets-Xabi Alonso-Xavi-Silva
Ramos-Piqué-Puyol-Capdevila
Casillas
How, pray tell fellow futbolitas, does that rank up in your ideal La Roja line-up?
So where do I plan on watching this first game? Good question. Will the match be broadcast on a giant screen at Plaza Colon in Madrid as it was done during the Eurocup 2008? I’ve called the city councils, I’ve called the television channels and I’ve called the press offices, only to be answered with the irresolute “I dunno.” Thanks for nothing.
Well one thing I DO KNOW for sure is, come Wednesday June 16th, you’ll find me wearing my CultZeros Fútbolita camiseta, waiting with baited breath at 15:59, ready to cheer on La Roja as they finally put to rest the underachiever tag with éclat.
¡A por ellos!
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22nd Aug 10
Ash
