From Scotland-Spain
Here's my little adventure from Spain's match against Scotland last night. Be warned, it's a lot of excited rambling. And yes, Sergio fangirling. I'm only human!
I hadn’t really planned on going to the hotel, but it was right in the center of town which was where I was anyway, so I went by to see what was happening. A lot of people were waiting around, so I decided it wasn’t too creepy to stay and hang out. I hadn’t been there too long, when we saw del Bosque going up in the elevator. Radisson Blu wins at life because it’s all glass - glass walls and glass elevators, so even standing outside you can see everything inside. Not too long after that, Sergio went up in the elevator! I got embarrassingly excited. There may have been shaking and a small squeak of joy. And then he saw us looking up at him and smiled big and waved! Swoon! Then Arbeloa came into the lobby. We were outside at that point and the security guards had been pretty douchey, but then we all went into the lobby and they didn’t stop us. Arbeloa was really nice about signing for everyone and taking photos, and I got to say something to him. In Spanish! Accomplishment! I also saw Xabi in the elevator and he also waved, and David Silva was on the balcony watching everything in the lobby and looking quite amused at the fuss over Arbeloa.
After that it was ages until anything else exciting happened. The hotel staff kicked us out and put us all behind ropes and then police came for crowd control, and then finally we started to see more players walking around. Pepe came down into the lobby. It was absolutely joyous seeing that beautiful bald headed man so close up. We also saw Iker, David Villa, and Llorente wandering around for a little while until the team started coming out to the bus. They didn’t stop at all to sign or do photos, so unfortunately most of my photos of that are of the backs of people’s heads. But still! The backs of Spanish footballer heads! Anyway I was still happy to have seen them.
At Hampden I wasn’t sitting with the Spain supporters section. I love the Scottish but I have to admit it was slightly frightening. I’ve never been to a match before where I was cheering the away team but sitting with home fans. They played the Proclaimers and everyone sang along and were generally very very loud. I kept looking longingly over to the Spain section. They looked like they were having so much fun, and I was hiding my little Spain flag in my bag.
The teams came out and it was just such an amazing feeling seeing the Spanish NT walk out onto the pitch. The cutest thing ever was Iker with the kids he walked out with. It was freezing and Iker kept leaning down to rub their arms and shoulders to keep them warm. He is too adorable! I really hope he becomes a daddy soonish, I think he’d be so great at it.
Wanting to live to tell this tale, I was mostly silent and stoic throughout the first half, mouthing things and clenching my fists a lot. When Villa scored it was so incredible! It took all my will power not to leap out of the seat. I love Villa SFM and to see him score a goal and a record tying goal at that - unbelievable!
After they’d switched sides for the second half, Sergio was on my side of the field. He was so close to me! With all the running… and the sweating… and frankly, dat ass. Oh it was so so good. Also so so good - Iniesta’s goal! Absolutely frigging amazing!
Then Scotland scored. It was so weird being quiet while everyone around me was going mental. But it was still sort of cool to experience, even though it wasn’t my team who’d scored, being around that energy and joy. Scotland’s not a team I dislike, so it was easy to feel happy for them, especially since I wasn’t too worried that we’d lose or draw. Except of course then there was the second goal, which was absolutely painful to watch. I just felt so terrible for Pique, and for Iker, and then was worried about the match outcome as well.
For large portions of the match Scotland was booing Sergio. I say it’s because he is clearly so awesome, but a man behind me disagreed. He felt that Sergio was “a diving git.” I very seriously considered turning around and telling him that Sergio is tough as fuck and to shut it, but I figured that would be absolute stupidity and I settled for giving him my best Nando-inspired bitchface. Surely Nando would bitchface the hell out of someone who dared malign Sergio so I felt it was my duty in his absence. I’m not actually sure if he noticed. Later I did get into a “discussion” with a guy in my row who agreed with the “diving git” accusation and did not like my theory that Sergio was being targeted by people who clearly knew he’d just suffered an ankle injury.
Then, praise Jesus Navas, Llorente scored. Once again it was extremely weird, since I instinctively started clapping but everyone around me was dead quiet. I was on the edge of my seat the rest of the game and the 3 added minutes were like glorious torture - part of me wanted as much time possible to keep watching, but another part of me just wanted that whistle to blow. And it was a sweet sound when it did. And then Puyi and Xabi took their shirts off. A much appreciated end to the evening! It was an incredible match to be at. I couldn't ask for better than to see goals from Villa, Iniesta and Llorente (ok well if Sergio had scored on one of his attempts I would've gone nuts) and the fact that Scotland equalized made it that much more exciting and more satisfying to win in the end.
So my camera went a little crazy too, and the photos didn't come out well at all. It didn't want to zoom. Or be in focus. But here are some of the better or at least not bad ones.
Hi Handsome!
Sergio coming out of the hotel. A pinnacle of my life? Possibly.
Seeing the Spanish walk out - another singular unforgettable moment.
In this one you can kind of see that Iker is bending down over the kids to keep them warm.
I know this isn't a great shot, but you can see half naked Xabi and Puyol so I thought I'd better include it :-)
This is my first time posting something so I hope it's all ok!