MADRID — Thousands of ecstatic Spanish fans in Madrid bellowed out the Queen song “We are the Champions” following Spain’s victory in the World Cup final.
Even passengers on an Iberia flight were treated to the anthem by the British rock band.
The Iberia pilot could barely contain himself after safely landing the plane at Madrid airport, announcing: “We are world champions, ladies and gentlemen, dear passengers.”
La Roja – as the national side are known – beat 2022 champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in New Jersey to secure their second ‘star’ having also won in 2010.
No-one in Madrid was likely to get much sleep such were the celebrations in the city which erupted close to midnight when the final whistle was blown on a match that the Spanish dominated before Ferran Torres secured victory with a goal in extra time.
The horns of cars blared, though they were not going far with the hordes of people who flooded the streets cheering raucously and blowing vuvuzelas – the instrument that became a feature of the 2010 World Cup hosted in South Africa.
Thousands dressed in the team strip, brandishing the national flag, and with their faces painted had already gathered to watch the final on a giant screen in the centre of the capital city.
Flares and fireworks also lit up the sky and 25-year-old Diego gasped with disbelief that for the second time in his relatively short life his country had won the biggest trophy in the sport.
“We won the Euro in 2008, then the World Cup: two years ago, we won the Euro again and now once more we have won the World Cup,” he purred according to AFP.
He said he would grab some sleep before awaiting the arrival of the returning heroes because “we must also celebrate that”.
“It is crazy to think we are singing it because at one point we no longer believed it would happen,” said 26-year-old Alejandra Silva, who had to raise her voice to be heard.
Her friend Angela Lambea, 30, said it would have been unfair if superstar Lionel Messi and his side – whose overly physical tactics eventually resulted in Enzo Fernandez being sent off – had gone on to win.
“We deserved it, we played really well, we had the ball the whole time, Argentina barely touched it. We are totally overcome with emotion,” she said.
