BERLIN: European champions Spain on Monday joined thousands of fans in a party through the streets of Madrid to celebrate their Euro 2024 triumph.
Spain defeated England 2-1 in Berlin on Sunday to claim a record fourth European title.
After landing, the squad were received by King Felipe VI, who attended Sunday’s game, at the Zarzuela Palace.
The king’s daughters, Crown Princess Leonor, 18, and Infanta Sofía, 17, wore national team jerseys with the number 10 of Leipzig’s Dani Olmo.
Felipe thanked the footballers for the joy they had brought to the country.
They then met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the Moncloa Palace.
Sanchez wrote on X on Sunday evening that he was “proud of the players. Proud of the team. Proud of the country.”
Coach Luis de La Fuente and his players paraded through the city in an open-top vehicle on their way to the Palacio de Comunicaciones, where there was a huge party for the fans into the evening.
Tens of thousands of cheering people, many of whom had waited since midday in the shade in temperatures of more than 30 degrees, lined the streets.
“The team will offer the fans a view of the trophy from the stage set up next to the Palacio de Comunicaciones, the headquarters of Madrid City Hall, and will celebrate this great achievement with their fans in a moment that will be unforgettable,” said the Spanish football federation on their website.
La Roja became the first team to win all seven matches at one Euros as they moved one ahead of Germany with a fourth Euro title, the previous ones coming in 1964, 2008 and 2012. — dpa
