Euro 2008 champions, Spain, were given a rollicking welcome in Madrid on Monday. The players were brought home in a special plane, painted with the word "Champions", at Madrid's Barajas airport.
Traffic on motorways was stopped as an open-top bus carrying the team crawled past crowds lining the road from the airport to the city centre in the hot summer evening.
Spain's captain Iker Casillas lets the moment sink in. The goalkeeper led his team to memorable win, that saw the country wipe off the disappointment of previous years.
At the front of the bus, scorer Fernando Torres swung precariously over the side with the 6-kg (13-lb) trophy in his hand, while other cheering players danced around.
One of the stars of the tournament, Cesc Fabregas, is carried by his teammates.
Fans draped in red and yellow Spanish flags thronged the streets and chanted "Campeones!" as the bus swept past, flanked by police and trailed by a phalanx of horn-beeping motorbikes.
Delighted players celebrated on a stage in front of thousands in Madrid's Colon Square and tossed 69-year-old coach Luis Aragones into the air. Captain Casillas credited Aragones, who the players treat more as a father figure than coach, as the main reason for Spain's victory -- the first time the country has won a major football tournament in 44 years.
The champions take centre stage!
On stage, tournament's top scorer David Villa screamed "Viva Espana!" as the young squad partied around him. Liverpool and Spain reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina looked like the natural master of ceremonies as he mercilessly poked fun at teammates and led tens of thousands of delirious fans in song.
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