World Cup News: Spain World Cup fiesta goes wild, boosts unity
MADRID — Spain erupted with its biggest fiesta in memory Monday when its football team returned to a jubilant nation after winning the World Cup, giving elated Spaniards a break from months of economic gloom and political squabbling.
Hundreds of thousands of people — if not more — jammed Madrid’s historic avenues as an open air bus ferried the national team down stately avenues to cheers from Spaniards decked out in a sea of red and yellow, the colors of the Spanish flag.
The celebration in Madrid, where national unity is at its strongest, was expected. But there were striking examples of support from unlikely places: The well-off Catalonia region, which has long sought greater autonomy, and the separatist Basque region, where anything pro-Spain is often shunned.
The massive Madrid street party came after players visited Madrid’s Royal Palace, normally used only for dreary state affairs. But team chatted and drinks with King Juan Carlos, who hugged many players and gave coach Vicente del Bosque friendly punches on the cheek and the chest.
“You are an example of sportsmanship, nobility, good play and team work,” said the king.
Team members then traveled to government headquarters, where they were greeted by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, ministers and hundreds of ecstatic children invited to the event.
“They won the cup but it belongs to all Spaniards,” shouted a delighted Zapatero.
Goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas said the victory meant “Spain’s name will be on top of the world for the next four years.”
Next came an open-air bus ride through Madrid’s historic center, the epicenter of the celebration for the second day in a row. Crowds overflowed into the street and surrounded the team bus, virtually all sporting the red and yellow national colors along the five-kilometer (three-mile) route as the bus crawled through the crowd with the players waving and raising the gold World Cup trophy into the air.
At the route’s end, firefighters hosed down fans sweltering in 36 Celsius (96 Fahrenheit) evening heat.
As the parade snaked down the Gran Via in the heart of Madrid, Spanish air force fighter jets flew overhead spewing out the colors of the national flag.
On the bus, the players waved flags and saluted the screaming fans below. Casillas raised a red and yellow carton cutout of Octopus Paul, the mollusk from the German zoo that predicted Spain’s victory
Such was the multitude clogging the streets and avenues that the team arrived more than hour late at the finishing esplanade. Madrid town hall urged no more people to go to the park area, as it had already reached its 150,000 capacity.
“For us Spaniards this is important. It is a way of showing that Spain is united,” said Roberto Lopez, 48 Madrid car salesman. “It’s not Galicia on one side and Catalonia on the other.
Juan Mateos, a 35-year-old civil servant described the celebrations as “a bit of anesthetic to forget about our problems.”
The party started when the players’ plane touched down, flying Spanish flags from its cockpit windows, with dozens of airport workers cheering from the runway. It taxied to a stop as cars driving by on nearby highways blared their horns in support.
A roar of approval rose as Casillas stepped from the plane and raised the trophy. The crowd chanted “Campeones! Campeones!” (Champions! Champions!). Then the players in their team jerseys walked from the plane to a waiting Spanish football federation bus without commenting to journalists.
The spectacle was “very important, it helps us forget a lot of things, like the economic crisis, for example, or people’s domestic issues,” said Javier Sanchez, a 42-year-old photographer from Madrid.
But will the ecstasy last? Could this be Spain’s moment to unite under a single flag? Or is it a fleeting instance of patriotism following near economic chaos when the country was targeted as one of the European nations most likely to default on debt like Greece?
Spain has been depressed by a debt crisis, 20 percent unemployment and nationalist regions fighting to separate from the country or at least win much greater autonomy and near-nation status.
While the spotlight was on Madrid, the win led to a rare sight in the Catalonia region’s capital of Barcelona: Spanish flags waving side-by-side with Catalonia’s own red and yellow flag.
“It has been very strange, but now it is being tolerated,” said Saray Lozano, a 31-year-old taxi driver from Barcelona. “If it weren’t for football, you might get rocks thrown at you” for displaying Spain’s national symbol.
About 75,000 people celebrated the win in Barcelona, and about 2,000 people waved Spanish flags and wore the team’s football jersey in the Basque city of Bilbao — actions rarely seen because of the violent campaign led by the separatist group ETA since 1968 to gain independence from Spain.
Just wearing the jersey on the streets of Bilbao before the win was a sure way to get insulted and risk assault.
But experts said the idea of Spain overcoming its internal divisions and economic woes because of the World Cup is unlikely to become reality. In and around Bilbao, authorities blamed sabotage for an electrical outage that canceled an open air broadcast of the final game, and several people supporting the national team were attacked by separatists.
“I wouldn’t have thought the euphoria over the football will last very long,” said Paul Preston, a Spain expert and history professor at the London School of Economics.
As for Spain’s fragile economy, the win “may soften the blow of the economic news, but it won’t have a long-lasting effect,” Preston said.
Joan Foguet, a Barcelona-based journalist for the leading Spanish newspaper El Pais, said Catalonia has a “schizophrenic” relationship with the national team — and attributed the burst of enthusiasm to the fact that the team played well.
NGO worker Elisenda Siguerola felt some people were playing up the Spain unity theme.
“One thing is football and another is politics,” said Siguerola, “even though politicians try to mix the two.”
Contributing to enthusiasm from unlikely places was the fact that several of Spain’s best players are from Catalonia — Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. The team also included superstar Xabi Alonso, from the Basque region.
In Bilbao, Alejandro Munoz said his daughter was wearing a Spanish national team jersey on Monday, but noted that “she also has a Basque one.”
“I think the celebrations in the Basque region should be seen as normal and will improve relations between the region and Spain,” said Munoz, 48.
Other Basques, like 29-year-old Aitor Elexpuru, said Spanish politicians against greater Basque autonomy would use the win for political purposes.
“A lot people wanted Spain to win so they could show the Spanish jersey and flag to those of us who don’t feel Spanish,” he said. “They wanted Spain to win, but not for football.”
The victory, however, brought at least some Spaniards from diverse backgrounds together, meaning it accomplished “unfinished business for Spain, so it’s been good for everyone,” said Soledad Gonzalez, 51, a security guard from Madrid.
She added: “I hope that, God willing, finally, the Spanish flag means being Spanish and not being a fascist, as was the case not so long ago.”
During the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco (1939-1975), Catalans, Basques and others were forbidden from speaking their languages and it was illegal to publish books in those languages.
Spain proves the gold standard for world soccer
JOHANNESBURG — Now, about creating that soccer dynasty.
Spain has won the sport’s two toughest tournaments, adding the first World Cup held in Africa to its European Championship of 2008. After edging the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time, the Spaniards were too exhausted and exhilarated to contemplate anything more than how good that golden prize looked and how much it meant.
So others can look ahead, not only to where this golden generation of Spanish soccer might take the nation, but to where the World Cup is headed and what the tournament needs.
Many countries, including the seemingly jinxed Dutch, have been blessed with one group of supremely talented players who learn the game together and apply those lessons on the biggest stages. In Andres Iniesta, who scored the Cup-winner Sunday night , David Villa, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos — the list seems endless — Spain has that crew. Nearly all are in their prime or just approaching it.
They have leadership, superb goalkeeping — mark Casillas down for both of those as captain and possibly the best keeper in the sport — and a clear understanding of the stylish Spanish way of playing soccer. After 44 years without a major title, they dominated Euros two years ago, then gave Espana its greatest sports moment in this World Cup.
“I am very happy to have won it and so proud to be part of this team and this generation of players,” star striker Villa said. “We all cried a bit ... the occasion called for it and now we just have to celebrate.”
Few nations sustain such success through the decades; only Brazil comes to mind, although Germany comes close. With more countries and continents becoming proficient at the sport, particularly Africa despite its disappointing showing this year, Spain’s biggest challenge is maintaining that fine edge that results in championships.
“I’m proud to be from a country like Spain and I think our country deserved a victory like this and I’m really proud of all the work we’ve done today in the game,” Sergio Ramos said.
More work will be required, but the Spaniards’ recent successes have carried them to a level of confidence that leads to tears of joy.
For 31 other teams at South Africa 2010, there were no such tears. Especially for the Dutch, who have been to three World Cup finals and lost them all.
They also lost their cool in the title game, which led to one of the dirtiest matches in any tournament: 14 yellow cards and one ejection. The Dutch forgot what carried them perfectly through qualifying and all six previous World Cup matches.
The Netherlands also has a strong cast that will be formidable at the 2012 Euros and probably the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Hopefully, that tournament will produce nicer moments and better soccer than this one. While South Africa proved it can handle big events and said Monday it will consider a bid for the 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympics, only a handful of pleasant soccer memories came out of this World Cup.
—The attacking style of Germany as it combined creativity with its usual precision and power to finish third.
—The grittiness of Uruguay, the last team to qualify for the tournament. The Celeste surged all the way to the semifinals, where they lost 3-2 to the Netherlands. Diego Forlan won the Golden Ball as best player, a fully deserved honor.
—Goalkeeping brilliance, from the veteran Casillas to the previously untested Maarten Stekelenburg for the Dutch to Ghana’s Richard Kingson and Paraguay’s Justo Villar.
On the other side, FIFA has several problems it must address, starting with the officiating.
England’s Howard Webb was lauded for his previous work in this tournament, then lost complete control of the most important match. He handed out so many yellow cards early that by the second half, he ignored fouls rather than eject players with a second yellow or even a direct red card.
That finished off a World Cup in which the officiating was, to be very charitable, mediocre. Missed goals (England against Germany, United States against Slovenia) and offside goals allowed (Argentina against Mexico) plagued the event. If FIFA president Sepp Blatter doesn’t seriously consider using technology to help referees — even if only for deciding goals — he endangers the world’s most popular sporting event.
Too often, teams turned conservative, particularly in the opening group stage. Thankfully, most of the nations who advanced emulated the Germans and Brazilians the rest of the way.
And maybe the lasting memory of this World Cup will be a Spanish team that finally became a champion and tried to keep the beautiful game beautiful.
-- Barry Wilner
Dutch dejection: 3rd World Cup final loss sinks in
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Two fighter jets, one of them orange, escorted the Netherlands soccer team through Dutch airspace Monday, a day after the loss in the World Cup final.
The staff at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport formed an honor guard when the plane touched down. The team was whisked by bus to a hotel on the North Sea coast.
A series of welcome-home events await Tuesday, including a meeting with Queen Beatrix at her palace in The Hague in the morning followed by a boat tour through Amsterdam’s canals and a party in the city’s Museum Square.
The events may help both players and fans shake off the country’s third loss in a World Cup final. The latest one was a 1-0 defeat in extra time to Spain in Johannesburg.
Among the headlines in Dutch newspapers was “Not Again” above pictures of dejected Dutch players following the final whistle. The Netherlands also lost to hosts West Germany and Argentina in 1974 and ‘78.
The Algemeen Dagblad daily’s headline was “Orange tears.”
For Chris Nielen, a 38-year-old sales manager who watched the match at a bar in a crowded square in The Hague, it was the third loss of his lifetime.
“In ‘74, I was in diapers. In ‘78, we were closer when we hit the post in the second half,” he said. “Now, we have to wait another 32 years.”
Jesse van Straaten said that the Netherlands could have won if it had been more efficient in front of goal.
“Honestly, Spain was better — I recognize that,” he said. “But we had the chances.”
Police across the country reported minor disturbances as fans fought and let off fireworks at the end of the match.
In The Hague, riot police had to disperse a crowd at one square that had been the scene of previous disturbances during the World Cup, and in the eastern town of Zwolle they arrested a man with a gun and were investigating whether the weapon had been fired.
In Amsterdam on Monday, scores of dejected fans using Dutch flags as blankets woke up on the platforms of the city’s Central Station after missing the last trains home.
More than 100,000 orange-clad fans watched the match on giant screens at the city’s Museum Square but quickly and relatively quietly left after Andres Iniesta’s extra-time goal shattered their dreams of finally shaking the tag of the best team never to win the World Cup. Litter left in their wake included trampled orange vuvuzelas, a reminder of the droning soundtrack of the World Cup in South Africa.
A Dutch foundation that monitors television ratings said 8.5 million people watched the final at home, making it one of the most-watched broadcasts in the country’s history.
Amid the disappointment was pride that a nation of just 16 million had reached the final, knocking out five-time champion Brazil along the way thanks to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory in Port Elizabeth that will likely be remembered as the team’s best performance.
“Fought like lions,” said the front-page headline in best-selling daily De Telegraaf next to a photo of striker Robin van Persie and winger Arjen Robben holding their heads in their hands, Robben on his knees on the Soccer City turf.
-- Mike Corder
Blatter: Cup players should have behaved better
JOHANNESBURG — Players from the Netherlands and Spain should have behaved better during the World Cup final, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Monday.
“It was not exactly what we have, or what I have, expected for fair play on the field of play in the final,” Blatter said at a news conference to mark the end of the tournament.
English referee Howard Webb showed 14 yellow cards — a record for a World Cup final — and one red for Dutch defender John Heitinga as Spain won 1-0 in extra time Sunday night.
Blatter refused to blame the match officials for their handling of an often bad-tempered match, which was watched by an estimated global television audience of 700 million people.
“It is not up to me to judge the performance of the officials in match control,” Blatter said. “I can only say it was a very hard task that the refereeing trio had on the field of play.
“They were not helped in this task, I can tell you that.”
The Netherlands team was widely criticized for using physical tactics to stop Spain’s rhythmic passing style.
Eight Dutch players were shown yellow cards, with Heitinga sent off after Webb — a former policeman — showed him a second yellow in extra time when the score was still 0-0.
Blatter said he could not comment directly on the conduct of the Netherlands team “even if I have seen all the irregularities as a spectator.”
The FIFA president said soccer is a physical game, but one that also educates players in certain values.
“When you learn to lose, you should not forget the basics, which is discipline and respect,” Blatter said.
Five Spain players were booked, and defender Carles Puyol came close to a red when he appeared to impede forward Arjen Robben’s run on goal late in regulation time. Webb allowed Robben to continue and attempt a shot.
FIFA is likely to open a disciplinary case against the Dutch team, and can also investigate Spain.
In FIFA’s disciplinary code, article 52 relating to team misconduct calls for national teams to be fined if at least five players receive yellow cards in a match.
Blatter was booed by some sections in the 84,490 crowd at Soccer City on Sunday when his name was announced and he walked on the field for pre-match ceremonies with the teams.
“I was only aware there were less vuvuzelas,” Blatter said. “I have been received like a friend, like an African, in this country. We went on the field of play and it was a great moment.”
Blatter awarded South Africa a 9-out-of-10 score for its successful hosting of Africa’s first World Cup, after fears the country could not deliver a well-organized and safe tournament.
He also paid tribute to former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, who was instrumental in persuading FIFA to take the World Cup to his country. The 91-year-old Mandela was briefly presented to the Soccer City crowd before the match.
“The dream was of this man,” Blatter said. “He brought the World Cup to South Africa.”
-- Graham Dunbar
Iraq to hire Wolfgang Sidka as soccer coach
BAGHDAD — Wolfgang Sidka, a German with coaching experience in the Persian Gulf, has agreed to become Iraq’s national soccer coach.
He will start at the end of the month and succeed Bora Milutinovic, a well-traveled Serbian who once coached the U.S. Sidka previously coached Bahrain and the Qatari clubs Al-Arabi and Al-Gharafa.
Sidka will sign a $500,000 contract July 30, Tariq Ahmed, deputy president of the Iraqi Football Association, told The Associated Press by phone Monday. He did not say how long the 56-year-old Sidka will be the coach.
“Sidka is a respected and talented coach and with his help, we hope to give new spirit to our national team and win future championships,” said Ahmed, adding that one of Sidka’s demands was to bring a fitness coach.
Iraq, the defending Asian Cup champion, was drawn with North Korea and longtime foe Iran in the group stage of next year’s tournament in Doha, Qatar. Iraq enjoyed a memorable 2007 tournament, defeating Australia and South Korea on the way to the title.
The team has struggled since to beat some of the weakest teams in the Middle East, fired two coaches and endured a five-month ban from international soccer. The ban, imposed because of allegations of political interference in the running the sport, was lifted in March.
-- Sameer N. Yacoub
WCup final pitch invader to appear in court
JOHANNESBURG — The man who ran onto the field at the World Cup final and tried to touch the trophy will appear in court Monday on charges of trespassing and attempted theft.
Police spokesman Col. Tummi Shai says a 34-year-old Spanish man was arrested after breaching security ahead of kickoff and racing across the pitch toward the trophy on display near the players’ tunnel. He appeared to be trying to put a red hat on the trophy.
The man was tackled just before he reached the trophy and was carried away by security guards.
He is reported to be a serial pitch invader nicknamed “Jimmy Jump,” who has pulled off similar stunts at other major sporting events.
WCup overall attendance 3rd highest in history
JOHANNESBURG — The overall attendance at the World Cup was the third highest in history, behind the 1994 tournament in the United States and the last World Cup in Germany.
FIFA, world football’s ruling body, said in a statement Monday that 3.18 million fans attended the 64 matches in South Africa. The average attendance was 49,670.
The ‘94 World Cup in the U.S. — where 3.59 million people watched games at the stadiums — still holds the record. In Germany four years ago, 3.36 million attended.
Organizers in South Africa acknowledged concerns over fan attendance leading up to the tournament before eventually agreeing to sell match tickets over the counter — a friendlier method for locals.
FIFA also said the average number of goals per game in South Africa was 2.27, down from 2.30 in Germany and 2.50 goals per game in Japan and South Korea in 2002.
Cruyff criticizes Dutch tactics in World Cup final
MADRID — Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff has criticized the Netherlands for its aggressive play during the 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final.
In his column for the Barcelona-based daily El Periodico, Cruyff says the Dutch players coached by Bert van Marwijk “didn’t want the ball. And, lamentably and sadly, they played very dirty.”
He added Monday that the Dutch deserved to have been left with nine players early in the game because two tackles were “so ugly and tough they even hurt me.” The Dutch had eight yellow cards and a red card.
The 63-year-old Cruyff is a former Ajax and Barcelona player who starred for the Netherlands in the 1970s.
Portugal hopes Spain’s WCup win will help 2018 bid
LISBON, Portugal — The Portuguese Football Federation hopes Spain’s World Cup triumph will help the Iberian countries’ joint bid to host a future tournament.
Spain and Portugal are among the countries bidding for either the 2018 or 2022 event.
The Portuguese federation sent congratulations to the Spanish team for its 1-0 win over the Netherlands on Sunday in the World Cup final.
“Of course, the (federation) hopes the Spanish team’s title will strengthen the common goal of the two Iberian federations,” it said in a statement Monday.
FIFA will announce the winner in December.
