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'You need to eat more pasta': The most Italian reactions to Italy's Euro 2020 win

The Local
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Published: 12 Jul, 2021 CET. Updated: Mon 12 Jul 2021 11:45 CET
'You need to eat more pasta': The most Italian reactions to Italy's Euro 2020 win
Italy supporters cheer ahead of the UEFA EURO 2020 final football match between Italy and England at the Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain / POOL / AFP)

More than 50 years since Italy last took the title, the Azzurri snatched the Euro trophy from rivals England on Sunday. And the last words from players and fans are nothing less than the sporting banter you'd expect.

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It seemed England had the potential to finally bring football home after a goal just two minutes into the match.

But the Blues held fast and scored to equalise in the second half, eventually claiming victory in the penalty shoot-out by 3-2.

READ ALSO: ‘Football came home’: Italy celebrates Euro 2020 victory over England

Following England fans' pre-match gloating, the Italian postal service responded on Twitter that football would not be coming to the "home" the English expected.

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"It's Coming Rome" quickly became a slogan across social media. Italy fans even turned their captain Giorgio Chiellini's calculated last-minute foul on England midfielder Bukayo Saka into a work of art.

And in a dig at England on a topic that's dear to Italians' hearts, Italy's vice captain Leonardo Bonucci proclaimed that the English need to eat more pasta.

The player could be heard shouting after the team won: "You have to eat more pasta. You still have to eat it."

 

Later on Bonucci was a little more sincere in his comments, saying in a post-match interview: "To make people happy is the most beautiful thing that can exist, and we have done it.

"I'm sorry for the English, but tonight the cup is flying back with us."

READ ALSO: ‘Il Canto degli Italiani’: What the Italian national anthem means – and how to sing it

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Although they played away in Wembley, Italy had the support of some dedicated national supporters in the crowd – including President Sergio Mattarella, who watched the boys claim a rain-soaked victory.

Many Italian fans couldn't understand why England supporters would bang on about bringing football home in the first place.

READ ALSO: ‘It’s coming home – where?’ Six things Italy fans had to say ahead of the Euro 2020 final

This fan tweeted about the absurdity of assuming a win when England has never claimed the Euro trophy in its players' lifetimes.

You wouldn't catch Italy jinxing themselves like that. In fact the team is famously superstitious when it comes to pre-match traditions.

READ ALSO: Unlucky Friday 17th – and other Italian superstitions to beware of

Who can say whether Italians are on to something with their rituals per scaramanzia – to ward off bad luck.

But they got the result they aimed for, taking home not only a trophy but also a rather fetching crown for captain Chiellini.

But no matter how high they climb, these boys will always want their mum. Here's winger Federico Chiesa asking Siri to call his mamma after the win.

And of course the first person that defender Alessandro Florenzi wanted to show off to was his mother.

He mouthed "Look mum... look here!" as he held up his medal for the camera, later repeating the catchphrase with the cup itself.

As the Blues made their way home on Monday, they couldn't resist showing off their trophy at every opportunity.

The Euro cup, croissant and cappuccino for breakfast, anyone?

Maybe Italians do, in fact, do it better. As England now looks towards the World Cup 2022, perhaps the team should start stocking up on pasta, accept defeat just in case – and remember to call their mum.

England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and England's defender Harry Maguire react to their loss. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP)
Italy's defender Francesco Acerbi poses with the European Championship trophy. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP)
Supporters of the Italian national football team celebrate in Rome. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
Italy supporters celebrate their team's victory at Piccadilly Circus in London. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Supporters of the Italian team in Rome. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Italy's players celebrate with the European Championship trophy. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)

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