Spain's UEFA EURO 2008™ winners received a heroes' welcome from tens of thousands of supporters as they brought the Henri Delaunay trophy back to Madrid on Monday evening.
Open-top bus
Luis Aragonés and his triumphant players were cheered by huge crowds lined either side of their open-top bus route from Barajas airport to the Plaza de Colón. Here the party began in earnest, as the squad took to the stage set up for them and delighted the adoring masses by grabbing the microphone, singing and joking. The coach described his side, Spain's first European champions since 1964, as "the best team in the world".
Sunday's 1-0 victors over Germany in Vienna touched down at 19.40CET, with live Spanish television pictures showing captain Iker Casillas mouthing "This is for all of you" as he carried the trophy off a plane emblazoned with the word "Champions". The players then processed in an open-top bus flanked by police and trailed by horn-blowing motorbikes, which crawled along various major roads leading from Barajas to the city centre.
Centre stage
Once on stage at the Plaza de Colón, both captain and coach had a turn on the microphone, before reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina took over as master of ceremonies, introducing each of his team-mates in a show of euphoria from players and fans alike. Even the normally reserved Aragonés admitted to being overwhelmed. The party ended, officially at least, with cries of "Campeones, campeones", with a rendition of We Are The Champions over the loudspeakers, and with a shower of red and yellow confetti.
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