Spanish memories of victory over France

So we reached the quarterfinals, the real reason for our stay here in Donetsk. The Quarterfinals, a stage that's been cursed for Spain for so many years.

Fans walk along the "Artema" Avenue... up and down from the early morning. There are rumors of Spanish fans gathering in Lenin Square. Hours pass by and still only Lenin is there. The heat almost feels like fire because of so much concrete. People are scattered, we can see some groups of fans on the terraces and parks. We estimate we have seen about 1,500 Spanish fans so far this morning. Tickets for all are even selling at half price! A stadium with the "stains" of empty seats is feared.

Spain must have something special, as so many people came to our party. Shouts and chants are heard to a lesser extent. Costumes also decrease compared to Gdansk and of course, the cheeks are painted in Spanish colors.

More and more tickets can be found on the road to the stadium. Typical resale signs -I sell tickets- disappear. Everything becomes more evident obvious and people show their available tickets to everyone: it's like 'the ticket market'. The stadium is probably the prettiest of all, spectacular both inside and outside. You can visit its museum with advanced technology. The Barça t-shirt is on display as a commemoration of the match played against the local team in the Champions league

Many Spanish fans in the area of the stadium, they seem to have multiplied, and many Ukrainians have joined the party.

Playing against France is always a dilemma. The remaining teams in the tournament all have high quality and are competitive enough to dampen our party.

We are not so few now in the stands of the stadium. I would say that about 3,000 Spanish fans are there. French fans are no more than 300. Let's say the difference between € and Grivna... Ukrainians and Russians complete the stadium. Some doors open after a few minutes in order to fill empty seats.

Spanish fans singing give the stadium a very good atmosphere. Classics chants and some new songs aimed at the French fans.

Spain score early and this allows us to enjoy the game with a greater confidence than in the match against Croatia. Casillas had to intervene in one of the few clear chances of the French. With the match under control, we score a second goal that ensured the victory and thus the pass to the semifinals. Our next opponent, our next-door-neighbor, Portugal...

The game finishes with the joy of victory, the stadium empties and Spanish fans leave filled with happiness, looking for something to eat and celebrate the success.