Comment from Margot
Time: July 2, 2008, 7:14 pm

It seems to have an enormous influence: That comprehensive piece in The Independent for example (referenced above) only appeared yesterday AFTER the huge win - tho’ with 8 different reporters contributing to it - it had obviously been in-the-works and ready to print for awhile. Suddenly however, the fantastic win alters perceptions, stimulates attention toward all things Spanish and justifies its immediate publication.
So yes - the ramifications are really far reaching.

Comment from Parubin
Time: July 2, 2008, 7:35 pm

I think football does not provide for solutions but instead it can give you quick joy and happiness (something which is to be seriously considered anyway).

What didn’t work the day before yesterday is not working today either. The obstacles we were facing last week are still there, but what is true is that with this boost of optimism we may have now a better attitude to overcome our problems, both at a macro and micro levels.

Confidence is needed in times of crisis and that is what this win has given Spain.

Apart from that, this has been also a great international investment for Spain in terms of public image of the country.

And in the end, we must not forget that the passion and joy that this sport is giving us right now must not make our real challenges to fade away. They are still there, awaiting for us. Iker Casillas is not going to save them for us.

Comment from Ray
Time: July 3, 2008, 2:45 am

@Parubin - I’m with you! You sound like a prophet in your own country. Amen.

Sports are fun. They make you feel great, especially when you win. Feeling good is important, looking for ways to feel good is one of the basic human rights. Jefferson called it the Pursuit of Happiness. Government doesn’t provide it, it is each individual’s right and responsibility to get it for themselves, despite government.

Enjoy the win, but if you delude yourself into thinking that it is anything other than a temporary relief from what is important, we might as well go back to having a supreme emperor who ‘gives’ us bread and circus.

In any case, Spaniards should never be ashamed of their country. Why should feeling good about being a Spaniard be regional? (Is a Californian any less ‘American’ than someone from D.C., Texas, or Rhode Island, etc?)

Comment from Tom
Time: July 3, 2008, 10:17 am

Ray - I don’t want to get into the whole argument for/against separatism but I think that some Catalans and Basques would argue that they’re not from ‘regions’ but ‘nations’ trapped inside the Spanish state, and that they want to be given a chance for their countries to make them proud too.

Do many people from California or D.C. deny that they’re even American?

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: July 3, 2008, 12:12 pm

Well I hope the victory provides a source of inspiration to others to exceed beyond the conventional expectations, which Spain appears to be doing in style and with grace and not just in football. Spain has earned it. As Thomas Edison said “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”.

Comment from hellothere
Time: July 3, 2008, 12:49 pm

I do not understand where the Independent is heading at with this strangely exhuberant piece. What is its aim, exactly?
In any case, I guess it is nice to be reminded of some of the positive assets and achievements in Spain.

On the Eurocup, of course people must be really thrilled right now.
But I do not know how much influence it can have on people’s mood and behaviour in the long run.

Two years ago, after the World Cup, there was a mini baby-boom in Germany: they were the host country and even though they had not won, they did win the “losers’ final” (sorry if this sounds really bad, it is not intended to, my knowledge of football is very limited).
The World Cup has had positive and lasting side effects in the German population: for instance, they are no longer ashamed of being proud of their nation, as shown by a massive display of flags that people would not have dreamt of before.

However, and I may be completely wrong here, but I think the situation was different, as Germany was getting out of a crisis and Spain has just got in.

Comment from StarHound
Time: July 3, 2008, 8:23 pm

“That comprehensive piece in The Independent for example (referenced above) only appeared yesterday AFTER the huge win - tho’ with 8 different reporters contributing to it - it had obviously been in-the-works and ready to print for awhile.2

I dont think that this is the case at all.

I have a funny feeling that the Independent article is the result of a round-robin in the office after an editorial meeting where they decided that Spain was topical. I think they just set about dredging up anything they could could come up with as they have clearly done, just re-hashed old articles to fill space and badly edited them with the minmium of padding.

There is certainly no analysis of the complexities of the political situation, just a travelog style broad brush.

Comment from luke
Time: July 3, 2008, 9:20 pm

Some of that article does ring true but it does mention that Spain is competing head to head with todays global stars of among other things, art. But then it doesn’t mention any artists. I’ve talked to many Spanish artists and curators who live in London and they all agree that the art scene is pretty lacklustre in Spain. There are a few contemporary artists high on the international scene like Santiago Serra but unfortunately Spain’s contribution to current art is fairly disappointing. Spain’s architectural advances are much more exciting.

Comment from Ray
Time: July 3, 2008, 11:29 pm

@Tom - I know it was a naí¯ve argument, at best. Although Texas sometimes pretends it’s a separate nation, and has to be put back in its place.

(And there was that whole Civil War thing, too.)

Comment from Edith
Time: July 5, 2008, 11:58 pm

I like the composition of the picture! It reminds me of some seventeenth-century painters.

Comment from Adam Winogrodzki
Time: July 10, 2008, 1:33 pm

Funny pic! Shows what Madrid really is like!

Comment from Jonk
Time: July 11, 2008, 11:46 am

Totally in agreement with Bill, Ben! Bill Bryson’s book “Australia” went gangbusters here.. everyone had to read it to find out what he said.

Everyone loved it and more and more people bought it because the book was funny and he loved his trip a lot, which self-validated us

Judging by the Spaniards who reply here I reckon they would love reading something like that.

Comment from Jonk
Time: July 11, 2008, 11:47 am

Erm sorry about that ^ this computer is stuffing up. I meant to say that the photo is great and does what good photos should do, and that is make you wish you were there.