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After many days, today was a day without riding. My motorbike was resting and so was I. Our plan with Dima was to have a breakfast, deliver something to laboratory and to pick up 2 Mexicans, who will also join us, at the football match and in our apartment.

Self-service breakfast

Early beer is a good beer

On a quick city tour we saw The Palm Tree of Mertsalov. It is a replica of famous “Palm of Mertsalov” which has become a symbol of Donbass (depicted on the coat of arms of Donetsk oblast). Filigree sculpture in the form of a palm tree, forged from one steel rail at the end of the 19th century by Donetsk blacksmith A. Mertsalov. At the moment the original is kept in Russia, Saint-Petersburg.

Mertsalov Palm in Pushkin Boulevard, Donetsk, my host Dr. Dima is in the middle

Pushkin Boulevard

Football time

 A huge monument to Lenin in the central square.

T-34 Soviet medium tank monument at the Artema Street.

Warming up before the game Spain-France

Vodka with Russian fans

Serhiy Bubka statue in front of Olympic stadium (RSC Olimpiyskiy)

Spain national football team arrived

Slovenia and Mexico together for Spain

Mexico1, Mexico2, Tuši and Dima. As usual, I'm very good with names.

I thought more people will come. Especially French fans disappointed me.

Before the whistle some running on the field.

The match began and after 19 minutes it was 1:0 for La Furia Roja. Xabi Alonso was the scorer.

Xabi Alonso

The match itself was quite boring, since only the Spain was trying to play and France was more or less lost on the pitch.

In the end it was 2:0 for La Furia Roja. 2nd goal was also scored by Xabi Alonso, this time from the penalty spot. You can read more about the match on this UEFA link.

The winners

Donbass arena

Outside the arena