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Fans celebrate Spain's Euro 2012 win at The Lansdowne

Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff  July 1, 2012 05:28 PM
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Soccer fans at The Lansdowne Pub erupted with cheers for each of Spain's four goals in the European Championship final against Italy, which gave Spain its third straight major tournament win.

The celebration did not extend to swimming in the reflection pool at the Christian Science Plaza as it did when Spain won the 2010 World Cup, but die-hard fans such as Javier Beltran, 26, of La Rioja, Spain, jumped up and down in joy as time expired.

"I'd be on the streets with them," Beltran said, as several televisions showed reaction from Spain. Like the streets in Madrid, The Lansdowne was standing room only.

Greg Galizio, a 22-year-old Brookline native wearing an Italy jersey, congratulated Spain fans, who began filling the bar 45 minutes before the match began.

"They're the best team in the world," said Galizio, who just returned from Italy. "As much as Germany's defense isn't as strong as Spain's, I thought they had a fighting chance."

Italy drew with Spain, 1-1, in the Group C match, but Spain outplayed Italy on both ends in the final. David Silva and Jordi Alba scored in the first half, and substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata sealed the victory with two more goals in the waning minutes.

Italy defeated Germany, 2-0, in the semifinals thanks to two goals from Mario Balotelli.

"Anytime that he got the ball [Spain] converged on him," Galizio said. "He didn't have a lot of space to make things happen."

Many Spain fans joined in celebration with Pablo Alvarabo, a 32-year-old from Ecuador living in Jamaica Plain, who started counting down with four seconds remaining.

"I'm so excited, I'm so happy," Alvarabo said shortly after the game ended. "I was thinking it was only going to be 2-0."

"We're making history right now," said Beltran, who is earning a master's degree at Harvard. "Today's the day I regret leaving Madrid."

Tony Fox, a 25-year-old from Dublin currently living in Hyde Park, was rooting for Italy, as Spain defeated Ireland, 4-0, in a Group C match.

"They have a mountain to climb," Fox said at halftime, as Italy trailed 2-0.

But it only got worse for Fox and Italy fans, who seemed to be in the minority at The Lansdowne.

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About Corner Kicks: Julian Cardillo offers analysis and insight about the New England Revolution as well as European and international soccer.

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