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The day I arrived in Madrid, I went directly to Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for a tour of the iconic stadium. Before the tour, I noticed there was a fan zone set up to watch Spain’s 2010 World Cup semifinal game against Germany, which would take place later that evening.
It was a very hot day, but fans were lining up for the game several hours early. There were large TV screens set up, lighting, and even a giant football signed by well-wishers supporting Spain. I decided this would be a great place to watch the game and was expecting a wonderful atmosphere.
Watching the Game
About a half hour before the game started, I got off the metro at the stadium and walked over to the Hyundai Fan Park to find a spot. It was jam packed with fans dressed in red and yellow, but I was able to find a corner where I could sort of see the screen.
The game was tough to see but the reactions of the crowd let me know what was happening. There was tension in the air until the 73rd minute, when Carlos Puyol headed in a corner to give Spain a 1-0 lead. The crowd erupted and cheered and chanted until the final whistle blew, when they erupted again. Their country had just booked their ticket to the World Cup Final.
The walk to the metro was a mess of fans celebrating and greeting each other. Even inside the metro, the celebration continued.
Celebrations
I rode the metro to Puerta del Sol near my hotel, but when I got outside, there was a huge celebration. People were jumping in the fountains, chanting, singing, dancing, and just enjoying the moment. I decided to stick around and watch the celebration as long as I could.
My favorite moment was watching a group of fans reenact Carlos Puyol’s goal over and over again. They would celebrate every single time as if Puyol had really scored. The group attracted a huge crowd and the celebration would grow every time they scored the goal.
What a Night!
I ended up staying a couple hours until jet lag started to take over, but I’m glad I stuck it out so long. It was one of the most memorable events I’ve ever experienced while traveling.
