Jubilant Italian fans erupt in celebration

ROME: “Il calcio e tornato a casa,” read a subheading on the front page of the Corriere dello Sport in Rome on Monday morning after Italy beat England on penalties to win the 2020 European Championship: “Football has come home.”

It was a sarcastic play on “Football’s Coming Home,” the tonguein-cheek English refrain which provided much of the backdrop to the final, but it was as far as the Italian gloating went. The rest was pure pride and joy.

“Europe is ours!” screamed La Repubblica. “We are the champions!” added the Corriere della Serra. “The Azzurri conquer Wembley!” read La Stampa.

Throughout the night, the cries of joy had been just as loud on the streets as they were on the front pages as Italians celebrated their country’s second European Championship, and their first since 1968.

Combined with four World Cups, Italy now have six major international trophies. But if there was ever a time when a prize meant more to a nation, then it’s now.

Italian unity

“A lot of people suffered because of the coronavirus pandemic,” said local football fan Luca. “Sport in general is good at bringing people together.”

The unity resonates even more when those doing the unifying lead by example. In barely three years in charge, Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has turned a team which didn’t even qualify for the 2018 World Cup into a synchronized machine.

They’re now unbeaten in 34 games and kings of Europe. They’re an extremely cohesive unit and it’s something that many fans were quick to point out.

“They’re not the best players, but they’re the best team,” said Italy fans Johannes and Nadine, who travelled all the way from Germany to Rome for the final. The pair celebrated Italy’s victory with thousands of fans in the center of the eternal city.

At the start of the tournament, when DW reported on Italy’s opener against Turkey in Rome, the mood was very different.

Italy had endured a nightmarish pandemic and several hard lockdowns. After so much human loss, football was almost an afterthought. Many Italians were still concerned about the coronavirus and its economic impact.

But with each victory, Mancini’s men won the hearts and minds of a nation that needed a lift now more than ever.

And it wasn’t just the success; even in defeat on Sunday night, the team’s qualities would still have resonated with fans.