El fútbol (soccer) is the number one sport in Spain. This year during el Mundial de Brasil (the World Cup) the expectations were high: Spaniards wanted to repeat the 2010 victory in South Africa, but la selección (the national team) was eliminated in the first round. The big disappointment, however, won´t diminish the passion for el balompié (old word for football).
The love for fútbol is constant throughout the year, the competition calendar is long and packed from the end of August to the end of May. The major competition in Spain is la liga BBVA (BBVA league) where 20 equipos (teams) play against each other every Sunday. La Copa del Rey (the King’s Cup) is another trophy that the teams can win in a shorter competition. Every city in Spain has one main equipo de fútbol while Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla have two. Depending on their quality and economic means, the teams are organized in primera, segunda or tercera división (first, second or third division). Most teams are privately owned, but a few belong to los socios (the shareholders) The winners of La Liga and La Copa participate the following year in the two main European competitions: La Liga de Campeones (The Champions League) and La UEFA Europa League.
Money is destiny in soccer. El Fútbol Club Barcelona and El Real Madrid are the two most powerful teams. The difference among these two and the rest is such, that they leave little room for any other team to win the title of Campeón de Liga (Champion of the League). The best jugadores (players) of the world play in these two teams: The Portuguese Christiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid, and the Argentinian Leo Messi and the Brazilian Neimar for Barcelona. 2014 has been very special year for Spanish soccer because another club from Madrid, Atlético de Madrid won La Liga, Sevilla won the UEFA Europa League, and Real and Atlético de Madrid played the final match of the Champions League, where Real Madrid won its 10th title.
Spain has great athletes in tennis, bike racing or basketball, but our children - meaning our boys - are doomed: They have to play and like soccer “sí o sí” (no matter what, lit. yes or yes).
