'Villa the Maravilla' gives Sportsmail's second team reason to believe they can win a big tournament

And the way they demolished France on Friday suggests they are set fair to go all the way to the final. But what about Spain, Sportsmail Online readers’ second most popular team in our poll?

Richard Weekes ventured up the Harrow Road in north-west London at the weekend in search of a hotbed of Spanish passion ...

The Spanish would never beat the English, let alone the Germans, in the race for the early-morning holiday sun-loungers.

One hour before Spain kick off against Sweden on Saturday and the Centro Galego  de Londres resembles, well, a quiet family restaurant. Even in the downstairs bar there is just a smattering of red and yellow shirts in the rows of chairs in front of the TV screen.

Gol, gol, gol: Torres slots home the first for Spain, and the patrons of the Centro Galego hit the bottle

When you consider Spain’s pulsating opening victory over Russia, with Valencia’ s David Villa adding £8m or so to his transfer fee with a storming hat-trick, the mood here is strangely downbeat.

“We hope to beat Sweden, of course,” says Luis Rey, “but we don’t expect it.”

This, remember, is a team whose only major tournament victory came two years before Bobby Moore trotted round Wembley with the World Cup. It was the 1964  European Nations Cup Final, and a Spain side studded with Real Madrid players saw off Lev Yashin and the Soviet Union 2-1.

Since then it has been 44 years of hurt … and counting. Spain’s fans are used to their side being tipped for greatness, only to be disappointed in the later rounds of big tournaments. Since 1964 they’ve been runners-up to France in Euro ’84 … and that’s it.

Oh no, here we go again: Ibrahimovic has equalised, and the Spanish fear the worst

The slogan of Luis Aragones’ side is “Podemos” (We Can), but you feel it really  should have a question-mark on the end of it. Can We?

Two minutes to kick-off and the Spanish have miraculously materialised. The place is suddenly packed and the Estrela de Galicia beer is flowing.

Javier Barrios pulls up a chair and tells how the Centro Galego has acted as a  community centre for London’s Spanish exiles – who come mostly from Galicia and  Andalusia – for over 30 years.

“My parents brought us to London when I was very young,” he says. “Imagine, there were eight of us in a Notting Hill bedsit.”

The Centro Galego is steeped in football. Javier is on to the story of how one local lad, Francisco Cagigao, was responsible for Cesc Fabregas coming to Arsenal.

Wear the colours: they start them young on football here

“Francisco played briefly for Southend as well as Arsenal and  Barcelona reserves, but eventually became Arsenal’s scout for Spain and Portugal. He tipped off Arsene Wenger that Barcelona were stalling about giving Fabregas a contract, so that’s how Arsenal got him first.”

Once Torres scores, the mood lightens, but Ibrahimovic’s equaliser against the run of play is met by a cry of “Puta”.

Heads sink once more on to forearms, discussion rages over the failure of Dutch ref Pieter Vink to award Spain a penalty. They have all been here before – many times.

The TV producer in Innsbruck decides to play with his super-slomo, and makes a close-up of Aragones barking a command look like an open-mouthed whale sifting plankton.

Two minutes from time and Torres has a clear shot on goal, but drives straight at Isaksson. That could be Spain’s last chance. “1-1 is not so bad,” suggests Javier, “if we beat Greece we can still win the group.”

Match-winner Villa is mobbed onscreen ... and it all goes off in the Centro Galego

Then a long ball out of nowhere, a piece of trickery from David Villa to evade the Swedish full-back, and a clipped shot over Isaksson’s hand.

“Villa, Villa, Villa – Villa maravilla!” they all chant (Villa, you marvel).

Everyone piles outside for a final beer and a celebratory team photo. In the sunshine even the Harrow Road feels like a good place to be.

Yes, Spain can.