Marbella: The perfect place to watch Euro 2016.
The eyes of the football world have been turned to France for the Euro 2016 championships, but for those not lucky enough to follow their team’s fortunes in person, cosmopolitan Marbella is proving to be the perfect place to capture the action. The local bars screening the matches have turned into mini stadia offering a taste of the atmosphere generated in France. It is difficult to think of anywhere else where followers of all 24 teams at the tournament can be found gathered together in friendly rivalry, gently ribbing each other—and also commiserating over shared losses. Here in Marbella, however, the agony and the ecstasy of tournament football has perhaps been seen at its best. On Monday, Spaniards and English alike were mourning their losses and in true Marbella spirit commiserating with each other. For the few Icelandic around it was their turn to celebrate—several of their red, white and blue flags were spotted flying high in the streets of the resort town. With the camaraderie so often seen on the Costa del Sol they were being congratulated by many an English supporter—a scene replicated by the sporting fans from other nations as they strove for success in preceding games. Now, with two weeks of action left, just eight teams are still in with a chance. Will Wales and Gareth Bale overcome the Belgian ‘Golden Generation, Eden Hazard and all? Hosts France will hope Iceland don’t repeat the trick that knocked out England, while Iberia is still represented by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, who will have to overcome surprise package Poland. Tie of the quarter finals though is the game between the football royalty nations of Germany—the reigning World Champions—and Italy, who accounted for Spain. Whoever wins through, the bars and squares of Marbella are the perfect place to watch the action in a vibrant and lively atmosphere whilst enjoying the camaraderie—and all with a cooling drink close to hand. What could be better for a football fan?
