Coach Luis de la Fuente and his players repeat a simple message: "We are a team. We embrace diversity while working together towards a common goal."
Spain's strength lies in cohesiveness, not individual brilliance.
Ironically, that shared purpose is what Spanish public life lacks most. Yet football's appeal can inspire solidarity, even if fleeting.
The variety of fans on the street, regardless of age, origin, or gender, reminds us of football's power to unite.
The motto of the World Cup host country, "E pluribus unum" — out of many, one — reflects an ideal still unfulfilled in the US and much of the world.
But for one night, amid chants and fireworks, it felt possible.
