English in Madrid

Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup Describing a result as a 'victory for football' might seem like a trite cliche - but you won't find many neutrals disagreeing with that description of Spain's win in the 2026 World Cup final. When Ferran Torres slammed in the extra-time winner, and Rodri lifted the trophy high in New Jersey, it is hard to imagine many will have had sympathy for Argentina. Spain triumphed in a battle of endurance, for players and spectators, to beat the Argentines and win their second men's World Cup. On every football metric - and, some would say, morality too - this was the right result. "There is no doubt that the right team won," former England captain Alan Shearer said on BBC One. "From start to finish, Spain controlled possession. They were the ones looking to play football, create chances and get in behind. "This is a result for football because of the way that they have played. Spain deserve it....

World Cup Controversy - Before the 2010 World Cup, some people weren't happy that Spanish players were reported to get €600,000 each if they ended up   winn ing the championship. The country was suffering after the great financial crash but nobody seemed to mind when Spain were crowned the winners. However, Spain got off to a terrible start when they were defeated by Switzerland - Did Spain get too big for  their football boots? , and many pointed the finger at Iker Casilla's partner - Girlfriend gets blame for defeat . England had thought, as they always do, that they would lift the trophy - Arrogant English - will they ever learn?   and most Scots supported Anyone But England - Come on USA, Algeria and Slovenia - ABE! Scotland played the World Champions a few months later - Come on Scotland!!! ; it wasn't as easy a win as Spain had assumed - Scotland 2 Spain 3 Boo-hoo! I didn't post anything related when Spain won the World Cup but I did when they went out in...

Pope begins Spain visit with praise for country's opposition to war and support for migrants Pope Leo XIV has started his official visit to Spain by praising its government's opposition to wars as well as its support for migrants. Speaking at a reception with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the royal palace in Madrid, Pope Leo spoke of Spain's "active commitment to peace and solidarity among peoples". Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has clashed with US President Donald Trump over Iran, and with Israel over the war in Gaza and the Pope hailed Spain's "faithful adherence to international law and multilateralism". During his seven-day visit, Pope Leo will meet victims who experienced sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, as well as groups that look after the welfare of migrants. Immigration is a divisive issue in Spain, and the Pope's focus on the issue during his tour could be seen as support for the socialist prime minister. He will also deliv...

Image created with Chat GPT Italy wins claim over name of Spanish restaurant chain The Mafia Sits at the Table After years of court action and complaints , trademark office in Spain rules name is counter to ‘public order and morality’ A Spanish restaurant chain called The Mafia Sits at the Table may soon have to change its name after the country’s patent and trademark office * heeded objections from the Italian government and ruled that the brand ’s nomenclature ran counter to “both public order and morality”. Italy has pursued its claim against the chain – known in Spanish as La Mafia se sienta a la mesa – through various courts and official bodies over the past few years , alleging that the name trivialises both organised crime and efforts to fight it. In 2018, the EU Intellectual Property Office ruled that the name was invalid as it conveyed a “globally positive image” of the mafia. It added that the brand was “ therefore likely to shock or offend not only the victims of...

Image created with Chat GPT Trump threatens to halt trade with Spain over military base access US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt all trade with Spain, after the country barred the US from using its military bases as part of its operation in Iran. In comments at the White House, Trump said Spain had been "terrible" and suggested "we're going to cut off all trade". "We don't want anything to do with Spain," he told reporters. It is unclear whether the Trump administration will follow through on the threat, or how officials would move to block trade with a European Union member state. Trump's comments add to existing tensions between the two countries, including over the Spanish government's resistance to Trump's demand for NATO allies to raise their defence spending . "I could tomorrow - or today, even better - stop everything having to do with Spain, all business having to do with Spain," Trump said on Tue...

Image created with Chat GPT Spain declassifies files on 1981 attempted coup in effort to dispel conspiracy theories Spain's government has released dozens of documents related to an attempted coup that took place 45 years ago - regarded as a key moment in the country's history. A group of armed officers burst into parliament and threatened MPs , aiming to overthrow the country's fledgling democracy and return it to dictatorship . Their efforts failed when King Juan Carlos refused to support them. However, conspiracy theories have abounded since , including that the king may have had prior knowledge of the coup or even that he may have been actively involved . The release of the files also came on the same day as the death of the coup's leader, Antonio Tejero Molina, at the age of 93. Tejero's lawyer described him as a "man of honour, unwavering faith , and great love for Spain". "May God grant him the peace that men denied him,...

Valencia leader resigns over handling of deadly floods The president of Spain's Valencia region, Carlos Mazón, has resigned after months of pressure over his handling of flash floods last year. A total of 229 people died in towns in the Valencia region on 29 October 2024, with a further eight dying in neighbouring regions , in Spain's worst natural disaster for decades. Many in Valencia blamed   Mazón for the scale of the tragedy because of how he and his government responded that day. It emerged that the regional president had spent nearly four hours in a restaurant with a journalist, Maribel Vilaplana, while the floodwater was wreaking havoc  and he did not attend emergency meetings during much of the day. Mazón's government also failed to  issue an emergency alert to the phones of Valencia residents warning them of the floods and providing advice until after 20:00, by which time dozens of people had already died. "I can't go on anymore... I know that I...

Image created by Chat GPT Spanish Vuelta finale cancelled as police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid The Grand Tour event has this year turned into a diplomatic battleground, with multiple days of racing cut short or interrupted as pro-Palestinian protests have taken place. The finale of Spain's version of the Tour de France has been cancelled midway through after clashes between police and pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid. The Spanish Vuelta's 104km-long last leg was first paused at around 6.20pm local time (5.20pm in the UK) as police attempted to disperse the demonstrators. Some protesters carrying anti-Israel banners had thrown barriers to block where the cyclists were supposed to pass on a finishing circuit for the mostly ceremonial ride into the Spanish capital. The race did briefly resume a short while later, but organisers were ultimately forced to call   the finale off . Organisers said: "For security reasons, stage 21 of La Vuelta ha...

Image created by Chat GPT Spanish government moves to ban smok ing on bar terraces Tobacco law would also prohibit minors from us ing vapes and stop sale of single-use electronic cigarettes The Spanish government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking and vaping on bar and restaurant terraces, prohibit minors from using vapes and related products, and end the sale of single-use electronic cigarettes. The legislation, which was signed off by the cabinet on Tuesday morning, is intended to “reinforce protections on people’s health and to adapt the law to consumption patterns and to the tobacco-product market”, according to the health ministry. Under the proposed law, electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches , herbal products, shisha pipes and devices used to heat tobacco and other substances would be treated the same as conventional cigarettes. Their use would be banned in enclosed public spaces and in outdoor areas such as bar terraces, stadiums, sports centres,...

Image generated with Chat GPT Spanish PM sorry for corruption scandal as opposition demands resignation Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has apologised to the Spanish people after an escalating corruption scandal brought down a senior Socialist party colleague. Sánchez, who has led Spain since 2018, said there was no such thing as "zero corruption" and he sought to put to distance himself from the affair, ruling out early elections. Opposition conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said it was time for Sánchez to resign: "Survival is no longer an option." A downbeat Sánchez admitted he had been wrong to trust Santos Cerdán, the secretary of his Socialist party, and spoke of his deep disappointment . Cerdán has been asked to testify in court after a judge suggested he may have acted with former party officials in improperly awarding public contracts in exchange for kickbacks . He said on Thursday he was stepping down to defend himself in the Supreme Cour...

Image created by Chat GPT US tariff turmoil makes Spain's flagship foods seek other markets It's lunchtime in a bar in the southern Spanish city of Seville. The kitchen is humming with activity, and behind the bar a member of staff pours cold beer from a tap into a glass. Nearby, another uses a carving knife to cut slices from a large leg of jamón ibérico, or Iberian ham, placing each one on a plate, to be served as an appetiser. There are few more Spanish scenes. And there are few more Spanish products than jamón ibérico, whose unique salty flavour is * renowned across the world, and part of a national cured ham industry worth nearly €750m ($850m; £630m) each year in exports. As he watches the jamón being carved, Jaime Fernández, international commercial director for the Grupo Osborne, which produces wine, sherry and the renowned Cinco Jotas brand of ham, describes it as a " flagship " national foodstuff. "It's one of the most iconic gastronomic prod...