Italian Calgary fans celebrate European Championship win
Italy has ended a decades-long dry spell, beating England to win the European Championship, giving local fans a game to remember.
The European Championships were delayed from last year due to COVID-19 but, over the last month, fans have been able to support their countries.
It was a winner-take-all on Sunday. Supporters of Italy and England gathered in numbers.
Limericks Traditional Public House was hosting English fans, with the lunch menu and music English-themed.
“This is the most incredible atmosphere I have ever seen in this pub,” said Steve McDowall, with Limerick’s.
The pub, which had hosted fans for the past month during the tournament, was full of cheering after England took an early lead.
“Italy thinks they’re in there, not a chance,” said one England fan.
England has not participated in a final of a major tournament since 1966, when they won the FIFA World Cup.
The Calgary Italian Cultural Centre was the spot for fans cheering for Italy, saying this would be their year. The fans became nervous after the first goal by England, but didn’t give up.
“I think that they gave a lot of motivation to come back,” said one Italy fan.
In the second half of the game, Italy tied it and the match needed extra time. After holding firm in a 1-1 stalemate, a penalty shootout would decide the game, with Italy ending their decades-long drought.
“Everyone doubted us… after the 2018 World Cup, look at us now,” cheered two Italy fans. “Best day of my life.”
Italy has previously won the UEFA European Championships in 1968. The Italians were also runners up in 2000 and 2012.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.