Defeated but proud: Madrileños brave the heat to roar on La Roja | OneFootball

Despite the air-fryer temperature outside and the imminent, annual August exodus, the people of Madrid weren’t going to miss out on another opportunity to watch their national football team prove its mettle against the country that had given the world the beautiful game.

After all, recent international fixtures had not gone all that badly for them.

By 5.45pm on Sunday, the Parque de Berlín, which lies 1 mile east of the Bernabéu stadium, was filling up with people who were braving the 35C (95F) heat to stand in front of a large and heavily sponsored screen. Some drank beer, others picnicked or fanned themselves, and some queued for free T-shirts.

An admirably patriotic Spanish mastiff had also turned out, a rojigualda flag proudly knotted around its thick and magnificent neck. Close by stood municipal health workers and police officers who had probably endured more strenuous assignments.

All, however, were inclined to agree with the excitable MC who bellowed that they were about to witness something very, very special as the countdown to the women’s Euro final began.

“We have to look at this as something amazing,” he hollered over the PA system, which was loud even by Spanish standards. “This is a triumph for the women’s team. They’re going to make history! They’re going to do it again!”

The Spanish capital and its public spaces are not without practice when it comes to massive spectator events, especially when the sport in question is football and the opponents are England.

A little over a year ago, thousands of spectators had packed the Plaza de Colón in central Madrid to watch La Roja beat England 2-1 to clinch a fourth men’s Euro title. And, almost a year before that, the red-and-yellow hordes had descended on the WiZink Center venue to experience the giddy high of Spain winning the Women’s World Cup 1-0. That day, once again, England were the runners-up.

As the match began, those who had come to the park to watch the final reflected on what the game meant – and offered final-score predictions.

Joaquina, a 60-year-old civil servant from Madrid, sat on a bench with her friend María and shared her immoveable certainty. “We’re going to win – there’s no doubt about that,” she said. “We’re the best.”

Her prediction was equally unwavering: “We’re going to win it 2-0.”

María was just as convinced. “Today is a very important day,” she said. “And we’re going to win it.”

Although the crowd was mixed-age – from babies and toddlers to grandparents – it was noticeably more female than usual.

As far as Elena, a 49-year-old teacher, was concerned, that was hardly surprising.

“Today is a really important day because they’ve worked really hard to get here,” she said, waiting alongside her daughters for the game to begin.

“Spain always comes to a standstill when the men’s team play and do well – which is great. But we need to see the same thing when the women play.”

The team, she said, had overcome adversity on so many fronts – not just on the pitch but also against their own federation. “They’ve fought so much and they’re role models for young Spanish women and girls.”

Her daughter Inés nodded her agreement: “It’s really special and I’m so happy for them.”

Apart from being happy, how confident was she? “Oh, they’ll win 3-0.”

Proof of the growing appeal of the women’s game was evident in the number of young men who had also decided to watch the match alfresco. The cheer that greeted Mariona Caldentey’s goal in the 25th minute of the match was full-throated and equally male and female.

“Women’s football is really growing here and it’s great to see so many people here have brought their kids,” said a Mexican man who is married to a Spaniard.

“We’ve just had a baby girl so it’s important to be here and to know that she can have a future in football if she decides that’s what she wants to do.”

Also in the crowd was a five-year-old girl named Leire, who was sitting on the sand next to her mother, Aymara.

“We came down here because she’s really excited by women’s football,” said Aymara. “In fact, she’s so into the women’s game that she complains if we watch the men’s game at home.”

Leire’s generation, she added, had seen Spain’s women win the World Cup and simply couldn’t understand why their game wasn’t as celebrated as the men’s.

The young Barcelona supporter also felt confident of a Spanish triumph. “We’re going to win 3,000-0,” Leire predicted.

But it was not to be. After full-time, extra time and a heart-stopping penalty shootout, England triumphed over a superior Spain.

As the sun began to go down over the park, the crowds drifted away, hot, tired and disappointed, but not dejected. Spain’s women had done their country proud. Again.

Header image: [Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters]