Spain celebrated their FIFA Women’s World Cup title at home on Monday with Olga Carmona being thrown up into the air by her teammates in front of thousands of fans who welcomed the newly crowned champions.
Carmona, who scored the winning goal in Sunday’s final against England, participated in the celebrations despite being told after the match that her father had died following an illness. Her had family decided to wait until the match was over to inform her.
“Today is a very special day for the entire country, but it’s also a bit complicated for me,” Carmona told the fans who greeted the players a day after La Roja’s 1-0 win over England in Australia.
Photo: AP
“Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions for me,” she said. “At one point it was the best day of my life, but then it became the worst. I’m really moved to be able to offer this joy for the entire country.”
Carmona was thrown up in the air by her teammates shortly after she entered the stage prepared for the team’s celebrations in Madrid, as fans chanted her name.
The 23-year-old Real Madrid player was named the final’s most valuable player and became the first player since American Carli Lloyd in 2015 to score in a World Cup semi-final and final.
Carmona and her teammates earlier paraded on an open-air bus past some of Madrid’s most iconic sites. The players arrived at the celebration spot near midnight local time, some three hours after their plane had landed. A DJ, local musicians and other attractions were in place to entertain fans as they waited for the players at the Madrid Rio park.
The celebrations ended some four hours later with confetti being sprinkled onto the stage and players, staff and fans singing We Are The Champions.
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