Entertainment For Lively Minds
The power of football (by a non-football fan)
Very surprised to find myself poasting about the football, but hey…
Spain the country, for all its myriad charms and my profound love for the place, is not at its best right now: economically challenged, ever increasing politically-motivated regionalism, a catastrophically poor political class (at both national and regional level), endemic corruption, etc. The list goes on and the immediate future is not bright.
But last night’s game shows something which I am often loath to admit – football, despite much evidence to the contrary, can be a massive force for the good. A bunch of players from all over Spain, who all appear to get on, whether they’re Catalans, Basques, Valencians or whatever, who don’t act like prima donnas (hello England and France) and who play attractive football (a few more goals would help of course) as a team – despite containing global superstars it never feels like them with a few others to make up the numbers (hello Portugal). I live 500 metres from the Bernabeu and the noise emanating from the crowds watching on the big screens last night was truly spectacular – going by the news this morning that was repeated in the streets of Bilbao, Barcelona, A Coruña, Valencia, Pamplona and all places in between. For anyone even vaguely aware of the reality of Spain today this was quite something to behold.
Of course it changes nothing really, the future is still not the brightest, but it’s left this cricket-loving football agnostic with a warm glow inside and a new found, even if possibly temporary, love for (international) football. Just felt like sharing.
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Nice post
and took me back. Living up the Castellana, nice neighbourhood. Colchonero, me. No, things do not look good for España right now except perhaps with football and unlike football, things will not get better soon. Spain's not without its ugly supporters (Ultras, Gallineros et. al.) but this does seem to have brought something special to the country that probably hasn't been felt since the early/mid '90's.
Barcelona
Has actually been pretty quiet. I live in a working class neighbourhood and the victory celebrations have been pretty muted by Spanish standards. When they show clips of people dancing etc on Las Ramblas there are an awful lot of non Spanish in the crowds.You find no more bigger Spain supporters than Americans and Australians for some strange reason. Maybe it's the When in Rome syndrome. As an Espanyol fan i hope they lose they i don't have to hear this "It's really Barça" nonsense".
Happy Spain
Fantastic!
Can't understand a word he or the reporter are saying but the face says it all. Just one question, Fraser. How do you find these things so quickly? Your youtube search skills must be remarkable.
There are a few sites I keep an eye on...
...to get an idea of what everyone is talking about online: Reddit, Metafilter, Boing Boing etc...
And correct me if I'm wrong
But that clip is after the Euro 2008 final, rather than last night's game, isn't it?
Not that I am trying to poo poo your mastery of the interwebs of course.
No, you're right
The title rather gives it away: "Spain celebrating Euro Cup 2008 behind Schweinsteiger".
*shames*
Apologies, I didn't actually pay too much attention to the clip.
I blame the lunchtime pint I had. Time for lie down in a darkened room I think.
Fraser Lewry
he's a regular self-facilitating media node, isn't he? :)
This is the general power of sport
It's all about mood. Look at the punctured over-expectation of the England team and the national wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Look at 2005 when after a dark epoch, we managed to win back the Ashes.
Look at the difference.
A success can be something on which to hang a mood, be it local or national. We see it every weekend, especially after derbies: go to Newcastle or Sunderland after a Tyne-Wear derby and see the difference in atmosphere depending on the result. Yes, it's irrational and it speaks to the essentially tribal nature of people, but it is still important. It's something that confirms your tribal affiliation is not all for nothing, that there's a point and some happiness or payoff to be gained. And, on those terms, it's actually a good thing; it gives a feeling of communal spirit and a jolt of optimism to help you cope with the struggles to come. We could have done with it: the disappointments are racking up this summer (cricket notwithstanding).
Me? I don't care who wins on Sunday, as long as the game's a good one.
Rooting for Netherlands
Me, I'm supporting the Dutch on Sunday. Why? Because I've got Netherlands in the Word world cup sweep! Go Orange!
For all those who laugh ...
... when the camera pans along the team during the Spanish national anthem, and then has to drop down to show Carlos Puyol, I think he had the last laugh last night, scoring with a header.
I know Xavi, Iniesta and Villa are not exactly giants, but these days 5' 10" (according to FIFA) is positively tiny for a centre half. About the same as Gary Mabbutt!
I think what you've hit upon
is the answer to "commentariat" tedious whining about "football being bread and circuses" all the endless columns and soundbites about a few weeks of football not being the answer to South Africa's woes.Well guys nobody thought it would be, but like the simple joy and excitement in Spain etc the expectation, drama, hubris and thrill the world cup produces in the host and elsewhere is justification enough for it being held. So less "bread and circuses" and more "bread and roses" in the end.
vamos España
not even the tattoo on my ankle
....Can adequately convey my love for Spain. Since I left Madrid in 2000 (Arguelles) I've gone back at every opportunity and was lucky enough to be in Madrid the night they won the Euro. It. Was. Fucking. Mental....
Cars stopping at every corner, passengers thrusting out bottles of cava to be slugged and just pure unalloyed joy, openness and friendliness all round. To be in Madrid on Sunday night would be a dream come true, though I just can't swing it with work.
However, here's a tip for the London Massive. Last night I saw the semi in the Centro Galllego de Londres in Willesden Junction and it wasn't even ersatz; it was the real deal. I'll be there on Sunday sin falta. Viva Espana viva Villa maravilla, viva Puyol y su cabeza y viva la madre que parrio a Iker Casillas!!!!
Sorry I'm a bit late
Drink had been taken.
Not sure if you're in a fit state for posting yet Archie
but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the apparent cohesiveness of this current squad (something which was always felt to be an issue in previous years). Were Madridistas unreservedly cheering the 'cut him and he bleeds red and blue' Carles Puyol and his six Barca compatriots, or was there a tinge of reluctance in the celebrations?
A good question...
that deserves better than a still-hungover answer. So here's El Sid doing a fine job, as usual, of capturing the mood here.
about right
One of Sid's better articles. Good Find,Archie.
That link is fascinating.
Interesting that is is more about the reluctance of many Catalunyans / Catalonians (not sure of correct form) to get behind Spain than about the Madridistas / Castillians willingness to celebrate a success largely made in Catalonia.
In the wildly fantastical parallel universe in which a UK team exists, I wonder what the views would be. It might be the Andy Murray scenario, in which he is a Brit until which time he is knocked out, when he reverts to full-blown Caledonian. Paranoid, moi?
What it was
was the antithesis of the way England play football.
Played with patience yet incisiveness, imagination but resilience too, discipline and flexibility.
All the things that "our lads" are deemed to possess as strengths - fitness, passion, bravery - Spain possess in abundance but with more flair, wit and sheer technique.
The one team that can probably match them in technical facility is Holland. Although, they seemed to have sacrificed fantasy for pragmatism in this tournament - Sunday's final could be a classic.
Holland have been my favourite other national team since first seeing the magic of Cruyff et al as a small boy - but on Sunday I shall raise a hearty "Vamos Espana!"
Hmm...
No one rates the Dutch ... they beat Denmark, Japan and Cameroon ... no one rates the Dutch ... they beat Slovakia then Brazil ... no one rates the Dutch ... they beat Uruguay, they've never needed extra time or pens, and Wesley Sneijder is the tournament's joint top scorer with Villa ... but no one rates the Dutch because it's not 1974 (WC runners up), 1978 (ditto) or 1988 (Euro champs) ... and they're not Brazil or Spain ... Cameroon got back to level terms, the Dutch still won; into the second half they were losing to Brazil, but still won...
meanwhile Spain lost to the Swiss and won their group on goal difference ... then churned out a series of tight 1-0 wins over Portugal, Paraguay and Germany ... but they're footballing genuises destined to unite their nation on Sunday night ... except that in this tournament the only time they've gone behind, they've lost ... and in the KO stages, they haven't needed to chase a game to equalise ...
finally, Barcelona got to the 2009 Champs League final by the skin of their teeth (deep in injury time, equalising v Chelsea in the semi) and actually did lose the 2010 semi ... ticky-tacky football not always a winner
Simply the best?
If the best team always won football would not be as interesting.
As Liverpool fan, we are destined to have at least one world cup winner in our squad. I will be happy which ever one wins - Holland because of 1974 and 78 which turned me onto the world cup - Spain because of Torres (even though he must leave us) and their general play in the past few years.
My money is on Spain - with Torres scoring the winner. Even David Villa seems to expect that once again his goals will get them to the final and then glory boy Torres will get the goal that wins it - and he doesn't seem to mind. That, England, is team spirit.
To be fair though...
Against Portugal and Paraguay Spain were playing negative sides with absolutely no interest in chasing the win, and they dominated a previously rampant Germany to such a degree that there were long periods where the Germans couldn't get anywhere near the ball.
They may not have scored the amount of goals we'd all like from World Cup winners, and their performances haven't yet reached the fluency of their European Championship winning side, but they're still a pretty special football team. Whether they beat Holland or not. And I suspect they will.
Ach, I just don't like bandwagoneering ...
... and I think I've detected two in this tournament ... first Brazil, until the Dutch did for them, now Spain ... until ... ???
You're right in that Spain probably will win, but they do appear a bit like a well-oiled machine for keeping the ball until Villa pops up and scores a solitary goal ... the flaws and the flagrancies of the Dutch make them seem more appealing - to me anyway ... the unpredictable outcome is always more fun ...
Living in Spain
Sunday night, friends in , beers, barbecue, whatnot and when we, yes we, win nobody is going to work on Monday, nobody. ( Which is bad news for me, as I am starting my new job at 08:00 am, but I dont care )
Doors
The Spanish team receive the ball and move in one fluid movement, able to release the ball in the direction of their choosing, revolving doors if you will. England receive the ball with a resounding thud, eventually gaining control before losing possession or eventually swinging themselves into the desired position, barn doors if you will. The answer is doors, tell your friends. "Viva Espana"