| Octopus Paul Fortune Tells Spain Gonna Win 2010 World Cup www.youtube.com 4 Nelson Mandela is in the house to greet fans before the game. Fiesta time: Spain celebrates first World Cup win MADRID — Spain's World Cup champions flew home from South Africa on Monday for a massive celebration, including meetings with the Spanish king and prime minister and an open air bus ride through the city's historic center. At least several hundred thousand fans were expected to line the streets of the capital to celebrate Spain's first ever World Cup title, less than 24 hours after 300000 jammed the city center for a raucous party just after the win. The team, which beat the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time in Johannesburg on Sunday night, was set to arrive at Madrid's international airport at about 2:30 pm local time. The players were to rest for several hours in an airport hotel before meeting King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero. But the highlight will be the team's 3-mile open air bus ride past Madrid landmarks amid crowds of cheering Spaniards decked out in bright red and yellow — the colors of the Spanish flag. Spaniards who partied past midnight to celebrate dragged themselves into work Monday, but were ready to launch the party again after the team's arrival. Hair salon owner Marisa Dalon stayed up celebrating until her grown children finally arrived home at 3 am "It is the greatest day imaginable. We are so incredibly proud," beamed Dalon, 42. Security guard ... |
