Calcio (Soccer) Italy vs. Germany

Calcio (soccer) is BIG in Italy, but it is hard to comprehend just how big until you are living here. Every little town has its own team and rivalries are intense. There are myriad leagues, with Serie A being the top, and individuals often root for a team within each league. Here in Viterbo there is a local team (I think in Serie D) and most people root for Serie A Juventus, Lazio or Roma. Fans aren’t just fans, they are true fanatics. You don’t want to walk around the wrong part of town or into the wrong bar wearing the wrong team jersey. Sure, during daylight you probably won’t be physically accosted, but you could get some serious verbal abuse. Note, I said probably. At night, don’t count on being left alone.

The only time Italians come together concerning soccer is on the international stage, which brings me to Euro2012, the European soccer championship, which has been taking place since the beginning of the month. Unnoticed by all but a few Americans amidst the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare, last night Italy played Germany in the semifinals of the tourney. This takes place within the context of the ongoing Euro Zone crisis which has largely pitted the more economically stable northern countries, including Germany, against the economically softer southern countries including Greece, Spain and Italy. When Germany played Greece last week in the quarterfinals, the Greeks hoped to beat them to salvage some sense of national dignity, but it was not to be as they lost 4-2. Most pundits expected a final between Spain, the defending European and World Cup champions, and Germany. But first, Germany had to get by Italy.

Our new apartment is no more than 100 meters from three different bars/coffee shops. The closest one, the Break Bar, is directly below our front windows. Last night they set up a TV outside and showed the Italy-Germany game for their patrons. Amy and I decided to join them since we were going to listen to the game through our open windows anyway. The twenty or so viewers leapt out of their seats for every save, shot, great pass and goal. They gestured emphatically, cursed and carried on for every foul and missed opportunity. They went crazy when Italy prevailed 2-1! Content with the outcome I went upstairs to head to bed around 10:30 PM. Then the fun began. A few minutes after the game ended, a chorus of car horns could be heard blowing repeatedly in celebration as the drivers took to the streets circling around town to express their joy. For the first few minutes it was uplifting, after five minutes it was annoying, after 15 minutes you REALLY wanted it to end and by the time it was all over at midnight I sort of wished that Italy had lost. On Sunday we have the opportunity to go through the entire thing again as Italy takes on Spain in the finals. Will you be watching? We undoubtedly will.