From typicallyspanish.com
Spanish football team welcomed home as heroes
By h.b.
Jul 1, 2008 - 7:44 AM
The welcome home party for the Spanish football team in Madrid last night saw the side’s substitute goalkeeper Pepe Reina as the star of the show. He told jokes, one of which lasted some four minutes, and hooked the crowd before introducing the team to the crowd. It was the first time that Reina’s public speaking talents have been on show.
It all happened on the stage set up in the Plaza de Colón after the side had arrived from Barajas Airport on an open-topped bus. Hundreds of thousands of fans turned out to welcome their heroes.
There was one common wish among both players and fans – that the manager Luis Aragonés continue, a wish which had been echoed earlier in the day by the Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba.
The winning team is to be given a reception by the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Asturias at 1030 today, and then move on to the Moncloa Palace where they will be welcomed by the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zaptero.
Finally the President of the Madrid region, Esperanza Aguirre, will give the players Madrid Community Sports Medals later.