Fifteen minutes from Al Thumama stadium there is a small residential area with earth-colored terraced villas, a quiet neighborhood that saw its peace disturbed yesterday at siesta time. Suddenly the horns of the cars and a scandal of voices and shouts began to be heard. Such was the uproar that many began to come out of their homes to see what was happening. Outside, a group of people dressed in red, small at first, then very numerous, began to gather to go together to the Al Thumama stadium. The epicenter of the meeting was Eva’s house, one of those near 2,000 Spaniards registered in Qatar.
Given the proximity of his residence to the stage of Spain’s debut, he decided to offer it as a meeting place. The response was massive. Residents in Doha have been preparing for their World Cup for weeks. have organized Whatsapp and Facebook groups from what they inform each other about access to the stadiums or the purchase of tickets. From there they have also started talks with the Federation to open the doors in one of the training sessions. The high point was this gathering to experience the premiere.
Three hours before the start, the outskirts of Eva’s house were a hive of people dressed in red where people did not stop joining. The neighbors recorded with their cell phones and also cheered for Spain. At the appointed time, the noisy parade to the stadium began, with nearly a thousand fans already in procession. Architects, pilots, engineers or teachers who have set up their life project in Qatar.
“Say that we live very well here, that not everything is as bad as they paint it,” they insisted to the journalist, a little tired of the vision that is being transferred to the world of the country that has welcomed them. “Not everything is perfect, we know, but we lead a completely normal life. Qatar needs time to adapt to today’s world, as Spain did not so many years ago.
As Eva said, Al Thumama appeared on the horizon barely ten minutes after starting the march and the demonstration stood in front of the colossal circular stadium chanting the “I am spanish, spanish, spanish” and the “Go for them, oé”.
Inside the field, the Spanish were located mostly behind the goal defended by Keylor Navas. From that background came the sound of bugles, a kind of vuvuzela deeper in tone. There they also sang the first three goals to the rhythm of Raphael. Along with the rest who arrived on various charter flights from Spain, and those who appeared scattered throughout other parts of a field that was not filled, the number of Spaniards reached almost 4,000. They will be more against Germany next Sunday, although Spain is still far from the convocation power that other teams have, especially Americans.
Instructions
Not even the beating relaxed Luis Enrique, who took advantage of each goal to call one or two players and give them personalized instructions. Then, he would send greetings to the stands with a huge smile on his face.
Suddenly, the stands began to thunder: “Mexico, Mexico!”, another sign that the tentacles of the most numerous fans in Qatar reach all corners of the World Cup. Neither the Spaniards nor the Ticos liked the surrealism of the scene, who reacted with loud whistles to the Central Americans.
In the second half it was difficult to warm up, but the start was explosive again. The bugles sounded loudly and the public was in tune with the new wave of goals. The game ended with the shouts of “Spain, Spain!”, the “olés” for the players and Rosalía’s music thundering in the recesses of Al Thumama. The party, logically, continued at Eva’s house. From now on, official meeting point of the Spanish fan in Doha.
