Spanish soccer fans celebrate Euro cup win

MADRID: Thousands of Spanish soccer fans on Monday took to the streets across the country to celebrate Spain's memorable 1-0 win over Germany in the Euro cup 2008 final, EFE news agency reported.

Soon after Italian referee Roberto Rosetti blew his whistle to signal the end of the match in Vienna, virtual pandemonium broke out in cities across Spain.

Fans in some cities were able to watch the match on giant television screens, set up in public places that were filled with people singing and waving Spain's red and yellow flags.

And Spain's streets witnessed frenzied celebrations after the country came away with its first Euro cup crown since 1964.

In Madrid, some 65,000 people, according to police estimates, packed the Plaza Colon to watch the match on a giant television screen.

Barcelona, in northeastern Spain, was the scene of a mass victory celebration, with fans crowding the Las Ramblas promenade and filling the area around the Canaletas Fountain with flags.

After the match ended Sunday night, thousands headed to downtown Barcelona, chanting "Spain! Spain!", and dancing in joy.

Across the city, people set off firecrackers to mark the victory. Many took to their balconies shouting "1-0!"

Streets in the southern city of Andalusia wore a deserted look during the match, with residents crowding plazas, bars and restaurants to watch Spain take on Germany.

People poured into the streets after Spain's victory, singing songs amid the noise made by jubilant drivers who honked their horns.

Thousands of fans took to the streets in the eastern city of Valencia to celebrate the Spanish squad's win with firecrackers.

Chants of "I Am Spanish!" and "Champions, Champions!" could be heard in the streets of Spain's third-largest city, where fans carried signs that said: "Thank God I'm Spanish" and "Spain, Champion."

Germans vacationing on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca meanwhile traded joy for silence Sunday night, sighing and shedding tears of frustration amid the din of celebrations by Spanish fans.

Beer in hand and glued in front of televisions, German fans kept the faith until the end even as it appeared that time was running out for their national team for an equaliser.

Spanish fans in Vienna took to the streets of the Austrian capital, shouting, singing and dancing on the streets.

Spanish soccer fans also celebrated their national soccer squad's win in other countries.