European champions back in Rome: in azure blue joy

Three years after the missed 2018 World Cup, Italy’s Squadra Azzurra has conquered Europe’s football throne. The victory over England is celebrated with euphoria across the country. The team has now landed in Rome.

Shortly after 6 a.m. at Fiumicino Airport: cheers break out when captain Giorgio Chiellini gets off the plane and holds the trophy up in his right hand. Coach Roberto Mancini carries him down the stairs, one after the other one after the other. About 300 fans are overjoyed.

After their triumphant victory, the Squadra Azzurra looks happy, but also visibly tired on their return from London. The bus takes you directly to the hotel in the Roman city center. From here, Chiellini posted on Instagram shortly afterwards, the trophy is on his bed, next to it the medal.

You can now treat yourself to a few hours of sleep before the official receptions in the afternoon. In the Italian cities, too, it is visibly quieter on the morning after the triumph celebrations, the fans are returning home.

Motorcades and fireworks all over the country

“We walked all over Rome, actually I can no longer feel my legs and now I’m dying of tiredness because I haven’t even slept for five minutes,” says a fan named Elena and adds: “I just want a bed and sleep.”

All of Italy had celebrated its heroes that night with car parades through the streets. In many cities, the fans lit large fireworks and Bengali lights, in Milan several people were injured in the square around the cathedral.

At the celebrations only very few wore mouth and nose protection, as 15-year-old Giulia experienced in Rome: “When we won, I went down to Piazza del Popolo and then on to Trastevere. It was a lot of people there, it was great because we were all happy, we were much more united than usual – even if there were no more masks. But every now and then you need a moment to take a deep breath. It was great! ”

Corona restrictions suddenly become unimportant

After a year and a half of the corona pandemic and at times very strict restrictions, Italy seemed to breathe out for one night, the police hardly intervened. But some do not feel comfortable with it, such as Antonella. She is happy that Italy has won, but there are too many people on the streets, she says. “Let’s hope the best when it comes to the contagion. It seems that anything is allowed in football, but then there are people who cannot work because the contagions are increasing.”

In Italy, people still have to keep minimum distances outdoors. If this is not possible, the mask must be put on. Nevertheless: the day after, the joy prevails. “Europe belongs to us” is the headline of the Roman daily newspaper “La Repubblica”. “It’s too beautiful,” writes the sports newspaper “La Gazzetta dello Sport”.

That night, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi had congratulated the national team and praised their team spirit. That is why it was possible to bring the title of European champion back to Italy after more than 50 years. In the early evening Draghi will receive the winners in Palazzo Chigi.