The night that Badalona dreamed of another star

BadalonaIf Barcelona did not install a giant screen, the surrounding municipalities did. Badalona, for example. While the mayor, Xavier García Albiol, followed the World Cup from New York, Plaça President Tarradellas became the meeting point for thousands of fans ready to push the Spanish team towards a new final.

Long before the initial whistle, the game was already being played in the streets. Jerseys from all eras – those from the South Africa World Cup, from the last European Championships, retro replicas, some fakes, and even some from Barça or Espanyol – paraded towards the surroundings of the Olympic Pavilion. People arrived on foot, by bicycle, by bus, by tram, by motorbike, or by taxi. Everywhere you looked, there was a sea of national team jerseys.

The improvised stands gradually turned red, dotted with the white of the second kit of la roja. Hundreds of Spanish flags waved above the fans' shoulders, among which a few Burgundy crosses could also be seen. In contrast, not a trace of senyeres. The atmosphere was more reminiscent of a Fan Zone for a major international competition than a square in the metropolitan area.

One square, six ways to experience a semi-final

Víctor, a "lifelong" resident of Badalona, had gone with the whole family. About ten people gathered to share what he considered "the first of two finals" for Luis de la Fuente's team. "We trust them one hundred percent," he assured. If he had to choose a goalscorer, he didn't hesitate: "Oyarzabal or Merino. They always show up when they're needed most."

Not everyone, however, was cheering for Spain. Alfredo, an Argentine, was hoping for a French victory. He was thinking of a hypothetical final against Argentina, which could be "Messi's last dance." He assured that he hadn't missed any of the World Cup matches and predicted a 2-1 for France or a win on penalties. "Football breaks many friendships," he remarked.

Marina, a young woman from the southwest of France living in Barcelona, was also following the match. Wearing a 1998 World Cup jersey, she was confident of a French triumph by 3-2. However, she admitted that it had been "the World Cup of suffering."

A few meters away, Iván, from Santa Coloma de Gramenet, predicted a 1-2. His son was even more precise with his prediction: "2-3, with goals from Cucurella, Lamine, and Pedri!". He bitterly recalled the elimination in Qatar, which he attributed to "a robbery by Infantino," and dreamed of a final against England. His four sons, all wearing jerseys from different World Cups, had grown up listening to the exploits of 2010. "They know Iniesta's goal by heart," he explained.

After Morocco's elimination, Achraf had also joined the Spanish fans. He hoped that the Roja would go all the way, although he admitted that a hypothetical final against England would be "impossible to predict".

The one who suffered the most, however, was Romero. Beer in one hand and his gaze fixed on the screen, he shouted every play as if he were in the stands of a stadium. He was convinced that if Spain overcame France, they would end up playing the final against Argentina. "Lamine and Merino," he replied when asked about the goal scorers.

Twenty minutes of silence and a penalty to go wild

From the first minute, the public experienced the match between nerves and concentration. Bitten nails, heart in a fist, and a silence that was only broken every time Mbappé approached the Spanish area. Nothing seemed to alter the mood until the 21st minute, when the referee signaled a penalty in favor of Spain and the square went wild.

Oyarzabal did not miss from eleven meters. His goal brought the red one closer to a new World Cup final and unleashed euphoria in Badalona. Fireworks, flares, hugs, shouts, and a few tears accompanied a celebration shared by young and old. There was still a lot of game left, but for a few moments, the final could already be touched with the fingertips.

The goal from the Gipuzkoan freed the tension, but only for a few minutes. Every opportunity from Baena or Fabián Ruiz lifted the fans from their seats and ended with a sigh of disappointment. The tense calm returned to President Tarradellas square. Spain dominated, but the score remained too short and, with each passing minute, nerves gained ground.

Porro began a night of maximum celebration

In the second half, the surroundings of the Olympic Pavilion regained a tense calm. Between improvised dinners and beers, the national team's fans awaited the second goal that would definitively bring Spain closer to another final. It arrived in the 58th minute, when Pedro Porro made the square erupt with joy. Beers flew, firecrackers boomed, and shouts accompanied a wild celebration by thousands of fans, surrendered to the great start of the second half by Luis de la Fuente's team. The third goal, scored by Lamine Yamal, arrived to drive the square mad, but the joy lasted very little: the offside signaled by the refereeing team postponed a party that seemed a matter of time.

Each substitution of Luis de la Fuente's eleven was met with a round of applause. Also every ball that ended up in Unai Simón's hands, who put in a solid performance, despite some occasional error that made people hold their breath in the square.

With the nerves of the final minutes, marked by constant interruptions and the slow passage of the clock, the semi-final was heading towards the expected outcome. The final whistle confirmed Spain's ticket to their second World Cup final. Then yes, Plaça President Tarradellas erupted in joy: hugs, fireworks, and chants to celebrate a new chapter in the history of la roja, qualified for the final thanks to the 0-2 against France.

Celebrations in Plaça Catalunya

Although Barcelona had not installed any giant screens to follow the semifinals, a few moments after the match ended, fans of the Spanish national team gathered around the Canaletes fountain – the place where Barça's titles are celebrated, which is currently under construction – to celebrate the victory of Luis de la Fuente's team. Horns, Spanish flags, and shouts of support for the national team – with some references also to France – took over the center of the capital of Catalonia.