Europeanism

It's true, perhaps I was very drastic. I was too tired. It's hard to get used to the frantic and hard work of a factory as a laborer after having spent so many years sitting in the office of another factory.
The match was great. It was a rare confrontation. I enjoyed watching it. In this occasion there I wasn't  felt a knot in the stomach.
It didn't seem like the selection I knew. It was a smooth and orderly group that performed a very nice football to watch.
The huge result, formerly would have seemed extreme to me, but this time, it seemed normal. Italy did not exist as an opponent. Nor was the Italy that I knew.
The point is that when I was reading the press the next day it gave me goosebumps reading the headlines in Europe. It was all praise, all right, but I am refering to  the other issue.
In occasions like this is when you know that you are European. Before me were the headlines of the historic nations that have shaped the history of the world talking about the good time of the Spanish selection and the decline of the Italian.
It was nice to read allusions to the past. We are all old acquaintances. We share a common history. I felt I was within that group, I was European. It's like the marriage...for better and for worse. There have been many umpleasant events over the centuries, but also memorable episodes.
In occasions like this, I miss the American and French nationalism in the sense of feeling connected and involved in something. I miss to shape a large group, feel us united and strong.

Euro 2012 Championship Game

Soccer fans have a can’t-miss match this Sunday when powerhouses Spain and Italy clash in the Euro 2012 championship game. The battleground for this exciting match will be the Olympic Stadium of Kiev, Ukraine. Spain is the favorite team and defending champion, but Italy has exhibited great performances throughout the tournament.

The lackluster history of the Spain national soccer team has been full of disappointments. However, the current generation of Spaniard players is reshaping that history. The Spaniards have conquered the two previous major soccer tournaments, Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010, and they aspire to raise their third trophy in a row.

On the other hand, Italy has been a perennial contender in Euro and World cups. Italy slammed Germany in the semis with two outstanding goals from forward Mario Balotelli, and paved the way for the championship game against Spain. The Tifosi (die-hard Italian supporters) are hungry for revenge because Spain eliminated Italy in penalty kicks in the Euro 2008.

For American viewers, the game will be transmitted by ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 2:30 p.m. ET (free online on espn.com and espndeportes.com).