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Spain celebrates its Euro 2012 champs

Euro champs
In this handout image supplied by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, (L-R) Pepe Reina, Santi Cazorla, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso of Spain celebrate following their team's victory in the UEFA EURO 2012 final match against Italy onboard the Spain team's airplane during their flight back to Madrid on July 2, 2012 in flight. (Photo by Carmelo Rubio Sanchez/RFEF via Getty Images)

Swathed in the red-and-yellow colors of Spain, tens of thousands packed central Madrid to give a hero's welcome on July 2 to "La Roja" — the national soccer team that erased the country's gloomy mood by winning the Euro 2012 Championship with such flair.