Northern Ireland

Italian fever sweeps Belfast ahead of tomorrow's Euros 2020 final

Italian flags in St Bernadette's Avenue in west Belfast ahead of the Euro 2020 Italy v England final tomorrow niht. Picture by Mal McCann
Italian flags in St Bernadette's Avenue in west Belfast ahead of the Euro 2020 Italy v England final tomorrow niht. Picture by Mal McCann Italian flags in St Bernadette's Avenue in west Belfast ahead of the Euro 2020 Italy v England final tomorrow niht. Picture by Mal McCann

FOOTBALL fever is sweeping Belfast ahead of tomorrow night's Euro 2020 final - with fans firmly in the Italy camp.

While bars have been busy erecting Italian tricolours, some families have gone all out by bedecking their homes in colourful Euro bunting.

In west Belfast, the Rock Bar on the Falls Road proudly displayed its Italian flags yesterday and taking to Twitter, posted: "...here at the rock we’re cheering on our Italian comrades and #anybodybutengland".

Elsewhere, in Ballymurphy, residents of St Bernadette's Avenue have also entered into the green, white and red celebrations while also taking part in a tournament sweep.

Many homes are displaying flags, including the flag of Italy, ahead of tomorrow night's final at Wembley.

Joleen McCann said her family, including her two sons Johnny (13) and Jackson (10), are firmly in the Italy camp.

"Everybody is excited," she said.

"I was Denmark and I was put out the other day. My sister, Rose got England and another neighbour got Italy.

"We are going to watch it in the street. We decorated a full garden and the TV will be in that garden and we will watch it.

"The kids are supporting Italy even though their aunt is supporting England."

She added: "It has been good fun.

"Everyone has been watching every moment on the edge of their seat waiting to see who will win the money."

In south Belfast, Italian woman, Felomena Duba will be watching the big final at her Stranmillis home with her husband, Nicola and their youngest daughter Nicole, who is 10.

The couple, who are originally from Pagani in the province of Salerno, and run an Italian food business called Delizia in Belfast, said there is "a lot of excitement" in the lead up to the final.

Mother-of-four, Felomena, who is due to travel to Italy next week to see family and her other three daughters who are currently there on holiday, said she, her husband and their youngest daughter, would be having a family meal of homemade pizza to watch the match.

She said they would also be video-calling family in Italy.

"We have an (Italian) flag. It is inside. If we win, the flag will be outside the balcony," she said.

"In Italy, every single match that we won, there has been a lot of demonstrations of happiness in the street.

"There are fireworks after every single match we won. People are really happy. There is big expectation."

Felomena said she believes Italy "deserve the win".

"The team is so good," she said.

"This weekend is all about the match. We are planning our dinner. Homemade pizza, Peroni beer, which is Italian.

"I'm so sad because I am not in Italy at the moment. There is a lot of excitement."