In case you didn’t know, the Champion League Final this evening is being held in Madrid. And that set me thinking about the series Mi Madrid that I wrote for BBC Schools Radio last year. One of the 10 episodes ¡Hala Madrid! is all about football, albeit ‘el derbi madrileño’ between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. I love football and it was a joy to write. I particularly enjoyed writing the story in which the Madrid football stadiums argue about who is the best. You can hear it told here and read the (bilingual) transcript here
El Estadio Metropolitano will be the stage for tonight’s game and hopefully will see an amazing game, won by the best team! #YNWA

Wish I could claim credit for writing the songs for Mi Madrid as they’re amazing! I’m really glad that the BBC has now made videos for each of them as it makes them even more useful. I sometimes choose one to play whilst kids complete an activity as a timer, or as a way of gaining attention.

Yesterday as part of Health Week I shared this video with Y5 who were focusing on ‘exercise for health.’  Although Sergio Ramos’ singing caused great amusement, they loved it and all enthusiastically joined in with the chorus.

España ¡ey! ¡ey!   Cantamos ¡Gol! ¡Gol!

España ¡ey! ¡ey!   La Roja baila.

https://youtu.be/SZWIrzNyTgI

There’s also a version without the words and with ‘promotional footage’ for Euro16 , a chipmunk version, a Videostar version with actions. And I love the Playmobil version!

There’s also this song  Himno Selección Española Eurocopa 2016 which is billed as a tribute to the team.

I hope we’ll still all singing at about 9.45 this evening…

¡Viva la Roja!

There’s been a lot of ‘kerfuffle’ in the Press about the Stella McCartney designed team GB kit (below)

However, as Spanish men’s football team are about to kick off at Hampden Park in the Olympic Games, I’ll be interested to see if they look comfortable and happy in what can only be described as the most hideous kit I have ever see. I know it was free but …

The bloke on the right Alex Fàbregas  described it on Twitter “Olympic equipment, there are no adjectives…” And frankly I’m pretty sure he’s right!

But whatever they’re wearing ¡Venga España!

They did it!  Having watched the quarter finals against France in France, the semis against Portugal in a restaurant in France and the final against Italy in an Italian restaurant in Switzerland, I am very very pleased to had survived all the excitement!!

The Adidas advertisement featuring the Spanish ‘selección’ have the message El pasado no cuenta – Todo vuelve a empezar. The past doesn’t count. It’s all starting again.

Which it is!

And then they made another, with a similar message, but pointing out that La Furia Roja actually won in their away kit at the World Cup!

Here’s the Eurocopa song by David Bisbal featuring Cali and El Dandee. Called No hay dos sino tres, it refers to the fact that Spain could win their 3rd Eurocopa (they are the holders from 2008 and also won in 1964) The first clip features lots of clips from the World Cup / Copa Mundial and ‘de motivación’ – to encourage the Selección in Polonia y Croacia.

Doing OK so far…

And here’s the karaoke version

So, Barcelona won! And in style.

Abidal, after starting treatment for a liver tumour only 10 weeks ago, raised the Champions League cup following goals by Pedro, Messi and Villa (and Rooney I guess!)

And Gerard Pique went home with a rather original souvenir, apparently following a tradition set by the Barcelona basketball team!

Who will lift the trophy?

It won’t be me tonight…

It's heavy!

Hopefully it’ll be whoever is standing in for Carles Puyol as he’s injured.

I want to see them throw Pep Guardiola in the air and make him cry again! (I’m rather fond of Pep..)

Thanks to @nstone for this!

Here's how they line up for the Champions league final!

This one’s for Isaac who, despite supporting Manchester United this evening,will be very pleased if Lionel Messi scores!

And here’s me at Camp Nou with Messi