As an Englishman living in Andalucia the obvious team for me to follow during the 2008 European Cup was Spain. The Spanish national team has, for many years, under achieved so it was very much like supporting England. The locals, many of whom are ardent Real Madrid fans, were very sceptical over the Spanish team's chance as the Coach, Luis Aragones, had taken the brave decision to leave one of Spain’s most recent footballing hero's, Raul who plays for Madrid, out of the squad.

During the group stage, Spain had looked very impressive as they had done in the World Cup of 2006, this did nothing to raise the expectations of the locals here in Montecorto. As in so many tournaments before, Spain have always looked good in the group but have been the first on the plane home in the tournaments knock out stages.

Now the surprise in the so called ‘Group of Death’, France, Italy, Holland and Romania, in which the Italians had qualified, by the skin of their teeth, in second place thus setting up a quarter final with Spain. Spain hadn’t beaten Italy in 88 years in competitive football. Spain won the quarter final on penalties 4-2 after a goal-less game with Iker Cassillas making several great saves in the game and then saving 2 penalties. The win over the Italians was like lifting a heavy weight from the Spaniards shoulders with an air of expectation and excitement in Montecorto starting to gather momentum.

The semi final against Russia was a repeat of Spain’s first group game which they had won 4-1, however, the stakes where higher as loosing meant a trip home whilst winning would and did see Spain in their first Final for 44 years. Spain took the Russian team to pieces in the second half comfortably winning 3-0. The final was set, Germany v Spain 8.45pm Sunday 29th June 2008.

Montecorto became a sea of red and yellow as Spanish flags were draped from houses, faces were painted and football shirts pulled on. The atmosphere reached fever pitch in the bars during the minutes before kick off. There was a rhythmic beating on table tops as the fans chanted the World Cup 2006 and European Cup 2008 football songs, which by the way are equally as bad as the ones back in England, it was so loud you could say it was deafening. The few Germans in the bars being drowned out as they sang their national anthem and applauded their team.

Fernando Torres, striker for the English club Liverpool, is a name that will remain on Spanish lips for a very long time, as ‘The Reds’ hit-man scores, what turns out to be, the winning goal. Spain could and should have scored on a number of other occasions Senna, Xavi, Silva and Ramos all came close whilst the Germans failed to make a mark on the game. In the final few minutes of the game the tension in Montecorto is almost tangible. As the full-time whistle blows the crowd erupts and the celebrations, which go on into the early hours of the morning, commence.

What a great night, shared with our Spanish, English and German friends as Spain win their first trophy in 44 years. Next stop, according to the Spanish public is bringing the World Cup to Spain in 2010!