According to the news it's all doom and gloom in Spain.

But how are they gearing up for the tournament? Spanish flags waving around or is the atmosphere deflated?

We are most definitely not deflated! My flag is going out on the balcony tomorrow.

Sport is really helping to keep Spain's spirits up at the moment. Nadal is back on form and even though I think La Furia Roja will be extremely fortunate to win Eurocopa again this year, we'll have a damn good try.

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In Asturias even the armed violence now breaking out has not dampened football enthusiasm. And now it looks very possible that England will meet Spain I'll have to keep my head down.

However the death of the for six years trainer of Sporting Manolo Preciado is also a talking point in Gijon. I remember the minutes silence when his father died recently. Now I'll be there for a minutes silence for him (or I hope a minutes applause). There have been many deaths in his family including at young ages. A family fated but a man much loved at Sporting.

C'mon Eng-er-land

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Los españoles están enfermos porque pasan de todo. Su enfermedad es gravísima, y su cura limitada y perentoria. Para sanarse sólo necesitan reconocerse. Xoán Leiro

Doom and gloom? hardly, some pubs and restaurants are struggling though, whilst others seem to be doing very well.

There has however been a marked reduction in tourists this year, due to the reduction in ferries and flights. The Parador is less than half full and a friend who works there has been made redundant.

Football crazy here, I have three shirts Spanish, English, and a blue an white striped one for the glorious Huddersfield Town. In the unlikely event that Spain meet England, I will be in the unique position of being a winner whatever the result, but should that happen I imagine Spain will be victorious.

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Maybe , maybe not.

Who would have thought Chelsea would be European Champions?

Football is full of surprises, as OH keeps reminding me when I get too excited about 'my' team's chances.

'My' team =Spurs.

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'The Owl of Minerva spreads her wings only at the onset of dusk'.

Ahh the terriers of 1926, football legends - but will we ever see it again? Three league titles on the trot. I saw them play halifax in 1977. They won on a drizzled night 1-0 but didn't seem likely to win the league. But a bag of scraps from the chippy at 2p were perfect

I reckon there's a 40% chance of England/Spain so I'd find out which fits best: spain under the english shirt, or vice versa

Here in Hampshire it is all a little odd. Quiet, subdued. The cross of St George flutters but quietly. Cars with flags noticeably few and far between. Expectation very subdued.

Perhaps a year of jubilee and the Olympics is just too much!!!

A manager who you could meet in the pub and be forgiven for not knowing. Yet a man with more international experience than any other at the Euro's. A manager who has been a few weeks in the job. But a gentleman to all. Won't find him with a swedish blond or quitting halfway through

And then England without great noise quietly go about taming France, a team with hopes. Sweden look poor. The silky skills of the England youngsters, Ashley (take your choice), and the man a frenchman thinks is the best goalie in the world, leaves neutrals giving Sweden little hope.

And Gerrard and that manager with the funny accent don't pick on the ref, don't make excuses about the heat, ........ it all seems different somehow.

And Spain look poor, Russia look like they have peaked too soon, and Germany, well they are just Germany; and Ronaldos going home

And Rooney waits

And the Olympics is under budget (well the last budget by £500 million) and the facilities are complete.

And still we wait. For god sake no one start to mention or even think the impossible

Very quietly on the breeze "It's coming home, it's ........" ssshhhhhhh

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Los españoles están enfermos porque pasan de todo. Su enfermedad es gravísima, y su cura limitada y perentoria. Para sanarse sólo necesitan reconocerse. Xoán Leiro

You watched Huddersfield Town, goodness!! We are on our way up again, what was division two, next season after winning the play offs. Lookout Leeds!

I asked the man at the filling station, who will win the cup, Spain? one word was the reply, Claro, (Of Course).

Remember the world cup, Spain lost the first match and then won everything. We got to touch the cup here in Valverde, El Hierro. I had to give a television interview, why two foreigners were supporting Spain. The locals took the Mickey for weeks..

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Ronaldo's not going home yet, Portugal are 2-1 up against Dinamarca despite spending most of the first half rolling on the floor. If Denmark can beat Holland, in theory so can Portugal.

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When I saw the thread title, I thought it was about money.

My Grandfather supported the local team (FA division 3 South) and even had a season ticket in the stand. He took me with him a couple of times (I could only have been about 6 or 7) and we kids had to go down the front and stand (couldn't disturb all the old boys). At the front we were confronted by a four feet high concrete wall. I was cold, I was damp (typical November drizzle), I was bored stiff, couldn't see a d*mned thing - that cured me of any enthusiasm for 22 overgrown schoolkids kicking a ball about.

Must get on with making a mosquetera that the carpintero de aluminio says can't be done for where we want it!

This will make some patriotic hackles rise ...

A guide to watching England, for any football-loving Spaniard >> Trans-Iberian >> Blogs EL PAÍS

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