After midnight, the players of the women's soccer team have arrived at the esplanade of the Puente del Rey, where a sea of people waited to the rhythm of Juan Magan. World champions," everyone chanted in unison, forgetting for a moment who was enlivening the evening. The 23 champions took the stage surrounded by the audience that cheered and applauded the milestone that has marked the Spanish team, which has gathered thousands of people in the capital to celebrate the victory despite the suffocating heat. Many in the audience were thrilled to see their idols take the stage. When they mentioned Jenni Hermoso, who received an unconsented kiss from Luis Rubiales, president of the Football Federation, the audience turned to her. "Jenni, Jenni, Jenni," everyone cheered her on.
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Jenni Hermoso's joy at the celebration
Photo: Pablo García (RFEF) | Video: Jenni Hermoso, through the streets of Madrid, to celebrate the World title.
When Olga Carmona, who scored the winning goal, came out, the audience burst into applause, thus showing the love and affection that the captain has earned these days. "We were looking forward to being here celebrating with all of you. This cup and medal is also yours," said Ivana Andrés, another of the captains.
A hug of 48 million people, has offered the presenter to Carmona, who lost his father the same day he won the World Cup. "Yesterday was the best day of my life and then it became the worst. Here you have the star you wanted so much. But not only this but all those who are in heaven and have accompanied us, "said the Sevillian.
Long before the winners of the Women's World Cup arrived, who have been made to pray for the large number of people along the way, the esplanade of the Puente del Rey was up to the flag. Thousands of T-shirts and red and yellow flags flooded this area of Madrid Río. Atleti, Barça and Real Madrid kits were also glimpsed in honor of several of the players that make up the national team. It is the first time in history that the women's football team has won the World Cup and people are aware that this triumph can change the thinking of generations to come.
Laura Ruiz is 33 years old and has put on her shirt with the flag of Spain. He admits that it has been more emotional than expected and has even come to cry. She is a teacher and throughout her career she has seen how every day her students do not play football because "it is a boys' sport". For this reason, witnessing the victory of the women's team not only implies that history has been made, but that they have changed it. "That's why I want to be here, supporting all the players who have left their skin," she says, adding that now her students "are not going to tell her students that they cannot play football, that this is for boys."
As the afternoon went by, people became more animated. Neither crutches nor carts are impediments to celebrate with the winners. Bubucelas, Hawaiian necklaces, painted faces, all bicolor: red and yellow.
Miguel and Mario are 37 and 34 years old respectively. Neither of them considers themselves footballers, but they have still decided to go to the call and celebrate the victory. Although Mario confesses that "this [victory] is the host," Mario says. "I think it marks a before and after and is almost more important than what men have been doing for years," agree the two.
On the esplanade near Príncipe Pío, the fans waited for hours for the champions to arrive to celebrate, in style, having defeated England in the final last Sunday. "That we are world champions!" shouted the presenter who was greeted by the audience with a cheer in unison.
Several DJs, the artist of the hit Nochentera, Vicco, Camela (Jenni Hermoso's favorite group) and Juan Magan were some of the guest artists who enlivened the wait of the fans.
The road to get to Madrid with the Cup aloft has not been easy: first in Benidorm, where they made the first concentration, then Avilés and Copenhagen, and then cross to the other side of the world to Australia and New Zealand where they played in Palmerston North, Wellington and Auckland and finally yesterday in Sydney. All this effort has led an entire country to be encouraged to give a chance to a sport that has been, historically, dominated by the presence of men. "Champions, champions" everyone chanted on the King's Bridge.
The Shadows of Victory
The Real Madrid player, Olga Carmona, was the one who scored the decisive goal for La Roja's victory in Sydney last Sunday. Despite the euphoria of having managed to make history, the captain of the team had to make heart guts last Sunday when she learned that her father had died early Friday to Saturday.
On the other hand, the celebration has been tinged by the non-consensual kiss given by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, to the forward of La Roja, Jenni Hermoso during the collection of medals. In a live video broadcast on Instagram, the player is heard stating that she "had not liked" the attitude of the leader, who later went down to the changing rooms and invited everyone to a trip to Ibiza "to the wedding of Jenni and Luis".
This Monday, Rubiales, has recorded an urgent apology during the return stop of the selection, in Doha, to try to curb the multitude of criticism: "Surely I have been wrong, I have to admit, because in a moment of maximum effusiveness and without any bad faith what happened very spontaneously happened. Here inside we saw something natural, but outside a stir has been mounted. If there are people who have felt harmed by that, I have to apologize, there is no other choice," Rubiales said in a video recorded at the airport. He continues: "I have to learn from this that, when you are president of such an important institution, especially in ceremonies and these kinds of issues, you have to be more careful."
The president has been forced to change his speech. However, still in Australia, their words were very different. "Let's ignore the idiots and the stupid. It's a peak of two friends celebrating something. We're not for with everything I've been through. Let's enjoy the good and don't even tell me things about pringados who don't know how to see the positive. A thing that has no evil... If there are fools, let them continue with their nonsense. Let's not listen to them," he said on Cadena Cope before getting on the plane back to Spain. The leader, who did have a leading role after the final, has not participated in the celebration on stage on Monday.