REGGIO EMILIA – We hope it doesn’t happen, but if we were to hear cries of joy and celebration in the event of a goal conceded byItaly in tomorrow’s debut at the European Championships hosted in Germany, it is very likely that they will come not from enemies of the homeland but from neighbors of Albanian origins given that the debut will be againstAlbania. In the province of Reggio, there are almost 6,000 residents of Albanian origin and support for one’s national team legitimately represents a question of identity and affection, just think that last March 22, when the Balkan country’s national team played a friendly match against Chile at ” Tardini” in Parma, the packed stadium was entirely colored by red flags with the black eagle.
The summer of football is therefore ready to take off and the mind goes back to 12 July 3 years ago when even in Reggio the streets were filled with an exultant crowd, with tricolor carousels, with blue shirts: everyone in ecstasy for the victory of Italy in the final against England. A collective joy that also represented the celebration for the Covid nightmare that was going away, the Covid that had postponed the European championships for a year, from 2020 to 2021.
Now, the continental competition returns with Italy ready to defend the title and with athletes and enthusiasts ready to follow every challenge in company, as per tradition. Bars, restaurants, clubs, clubs and homes have already organized themselves with more or less large screens for this first part of the blue-filled summer.
After Albania, the Spalletti gang will face Spain on 20th June and Croatia on 24th June in the preliminary round which will decide the two teams that qualify for the round of 16. Speaking of Croatia: among the red and white there is an old acquaintance from Reggio Emilia, that one Bruno Petkovic who wore the granata shirt in 2015 with 16 appearances and 4 goals. The 29-year-old striker, now at Dinamo Zagreb, could return to Italy shortly: Fiorentina is interested in him. But that’s another story.
Reggio Emilia soccer European football championships 2024 Italy-Albania
