How Spain has modernised Europe

Football is a metaphor for spanish modernism. Spain’s fascinating rise from the shadows of history to a cultural leader of the entire continent.

In 2008 European Cup holders Spain reached the final in Johannesburg where they faced fellow World Cup winner virgins, Holland; I watched the match in a packed local bar in Barcelona. The local Catalans wouldn’t normally support a Spanish team but it was explained that ‘six of the starting eleven play for Barcelona FC, so they have made an exception.’ It was my first introduction to the reality of Catalan separatism and as well as the mysteries of tiki-taka football.

How Spain has modernised Europe
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