Soccer: The reaction in the Spanish media this morning was much the same to the reaction in the stands last night when Spain swept Italy aside in the European Championships final to make history.
The 4-0 win in Kiev saw them crowned winners for the third time in four years after previous successes in Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 and was greeted with euphoria by fans and press alike.
"Champions of Europe," read the headline in El Pais. "After a memorable game with the best of their style, 'La Roja' crushed Italy and completed the triple crown of European Championship-World Cup-European Championship.
“With goals from (David) Silva, Jordi Alba, (Fernando) Torres and (Juan) Mata, Spain completed the biggest ever victory in a European Championship final.”
El Mundosimilarly ran with: "Legendary Champions."
Spain, they said, “had changed football with their short passing style and domination of the ball in a style that everyone now wants to copy.”
"Spain wins the impossible," wrote La Vanguardia. "La Roja completed the most successful cycle in the history of international football with its third title in four years."
And there was special praise from the Catalan daily for one of their own, Xavi, who “showed a magisterial direction of his teammates with two assists.”
Madrid sports daily Marcathanked the players from bringing joy to the country at a time of otherwise economic gloom with their headline of "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You".
Both AS.comand El Mundo Deportivoboth hailed La Furia Roja as "Triple-champions".
Barcelona based Sportdeclared Vicente del Bosque's men as "Kings of football and kings of Europe", adding: "The Spanish national team has its place in history and it was ruthless.
“With less suffering than expected, Del Bosque’s men achieved a second consecutive European Championship.”
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