Italy Holds Its Breath as Its National Soccer Team Prepares to Face England

Despite pandemic restrictions that still require masks and social distancing, especially indoors, people have been watching the games in large crowds and celebrating on the streets.

“With all caution, people need some normality and the national team this year is a reason to be proud and joyful after so much suffering,” said Daniele Magnani, an amateur soccer coach, who was visiting the museum with his wife.

Mr. Magnani said that he had always watched the international competitions at home, but this year he was going to a public viewing in a large garden in the eastern Italian city of Cesena where he lives with his family.

He noted that Coach Mancini not only managed to rebuild the national team, he also galvanized Italians. Last year, in homage to the city of Bergamo’s early fight against Covid-19, the team chose to play one of its first international matches in town, with only medical workers watching.

Italy has had more recent success than England, but also some recent failures. In 2017 the team suffered the humiliation of going home from the World Cup at the end of the group stage.

“There is a future for Italian soccer,” Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s beloved goalkeeper, said in tears during a television interview after the defeat, while the interviewer placed a hand on his shoulder.

“We have pride and strength, we are stubborn,” Mr. Buffon said. “After such bad falls, we will find a way to get back up.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/world/europe/italy-soccer-euro-footbal-museum.html