JOINT BLOG POST: REBEKAH THOMPSON AND FIONA FLORES WATSON

• Rebekah's view

It’s never been done before, and in spite of all the criticism and early doubts, Spain has become the first team ever to win three major competitions in a row (Euro Cup 2008 & 2012, World Cup 2010), and the first team ever to win the European Championship back to back.

In a spectacular victory, Spain defeated Italy 4–0 in the final. We had planned to head to Marbella, but after seeing the celebrations following the Portugal match and the difficulty of getting home, we opted for a local bar in the village of Cancelada.

There are three bars in Cancelada, and not a single empty seat. We spent the whole match leaning against the bar. The support for the selección Española was incredible and totally international.

This was the second time I’ve been in Spain for a major victory. In 2010 I watched the World Cup final in Vigo. Fireworks, all-night parties, dancing in the streets — the Spanish really know how to celebrate.

Maybe in 2014 “No hay dos sin tres” will become “No hay tres sin cuatro”. Well done Spain! ¡VIVA ESPAÑA!

• Fiona's view

I watched the match on the terrace of a small café with my family — a bit more sedate than Rebekah’s experience. I followed the match closely on Twitter, fascinated by the reaction after the final whistle.

Many viewers commented on the children playing on the pitch after the match. Seeing the players celebrate with their kids added a deeply human dimension to the victory.

Also it was great to see that, in the midst of such excitement, knowing that their achievements were putting them in the history books, as Rebekah explained above (the three successive competition victories, called La Santisima Trinidad), they still remembered lost colleagues. Various members of the team put on Tshirts remembering Spanish players who have died tragically young, including Antonio Puerta (Sevilla) and Miki Roqué (Liverpool, Betis). Sharing this moment with the families of these footballers was a supremely thoughtful, altruistic and laudable gesture.

And, even though I detest bullfighting, I loved watched local boy Sergio Ramos wave his capote (bullfighter's cape) on the pitch. It was a moment when we saw the team's Spanishness come to the fore. I wonder what England players would have done in that same situation?

Needless to say, the Spanish press have not stinted in their praise for the team - other records broken in last night's final were the most goals ever scored in a Eurocup Final (previously held by Germany, 3-0 against the USSR in 1972).

• Sports newspaper AS
  • "EL MEJOR EQUIPO EN LA HISTORIA" (The best team in history)
  • "España entra en la leyenda" (Spain passes into legend)
• Sports newspaper Marca
  • "ESPAÑA Y NADIE MAS" (Spain and no one else)
  • "INOLVIDABLE!" (Unforgettable!)
• Diario de Sevilla
  • "CAMPEONES, CAMPEONES...Y CAMPEONES" (Champions… you get the picture)
  • "GENIOS" (Geniuses)
• ABC
  • "INVINCIBLE ESPAÑA" (Unbeatable Spain)
• El País
  • "ESPAÑA CONQUISTA LA TRIPLE CORONA" (Spain conquers the triple crown)
  • "Una exhibición para la eternidad" (A show for eternity)

Plus some quotes from the players and manager themselves, with varying degrees of modesty and restraint:

• Jordi Alba: “Este Seleccion va a ser recordada siempre” (This team will always be remembered.)
• Xavi Hernandez: “Hemos sido muy superiores y ha sido un partido muy completo.” (We played very well; it was a very comprehensive match.)
• Vicente del Bosque: “Estamos satisfechos; hemos dado un rato de felicidad a todo España.” (We're satisfied; we've given the whole of Spain a moment of happiness.)

The one thing which was missing from last night's TV coverage, and not just in my opinion, was the drama and passion of the spontaneous kiss which team captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas (widely referred to as San Iker; he has now won 100 matches for his national team) gave his girlfriend, TV journalist Sara Carbonero, while she was interviewing him after the World Cup Final. All throughout the post-match interviews, the people I was watching with were chanting "¡Que se besen!" (Go on, have a kiss!) at whoever happened to be on screen - men, women, players, politicians...