RF:
I have never understood why soccer should be viewed with the reverence of a religion, I don't believe in any religion anyway. To me soccer is big business, funded directly and indirectly by the fans, rather than pure sport. I believe that the influence of money on this sport has corrupted its ethics such that in my view it is not really sport anymore.
You´re quite right, RF. I live in a country in which soccer is more than a religion. And the mass media is the great responsible of this: it didn´t matter if they play well or simply awfull; it didn´t matter if players do their jobs: TV and newspaper coverage for them is bigger than international business or a natural disaster. And it´s logical: it sells! People are make believe they´re integral part of the activity when, in reality, they´re exploited. I always say that Karl Marx was mistaken: Religion is NOT the opium of the people... soccer is!
Anyway, the Euro is a much better (2,500% more or less) than the usual garbage this country has, so it´s very welcome because is a qualitative change.
You don´t have the slightest idea of the mob and mobthinking around soccer in Costa Rica (and Latin America for that fact).
And Spain did an incredible job, they played beautifull, I have to admitt.
Best regards.