“Save Us, Roberto”
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Scottish newspaper wishes Italians European Championship victory
Italy coach Roberto Mancini will face the English Three Lions in the final of the European Championship. Photo: Justin Tallis / AFP Pool / AP / DPA
London When Italy asked Italy to win the European Championship final against England, a Scottish newspaper had a mixed reaction.
“The National”, which supports Scottish independence, featured Italian national coach Roberto Mancini as Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace on the front cover of Saturday’s edition in a photo reminiscent of Mel Gibson’s film “Braveheart”. “Save us, Roberto,” wrote the newspaper from Glasgow for Sunday’s European Championship final at London’s Wembley Stadium, “you are our last hope. (We can’t afford another 55 years to brag about it.)
While many English took it with humor and interpreted it as a simple football taunt, others reacted angrily and accused “The National” of reinforcing anti-English outrage in Scotland. Harry Cole, editor of British tabloid “The Sun”, called it “sad” on Twitter. In Italy, on the other hand, coach Mancini in Braveheart gear provided the entertainment.
Mancini himself described the front page as “good”, but did not want to go into further detail about whether he felt like a “braveheart” before the final: “I think we have to play our game. ” Captain Giorgio Chiellini commented on the front page with a grin: “It made me laugh,” said the 36-year-old.
England won the World Cup 55 years ago in 1966, the only Three Lions title to date. Scottish and English football have a long rivalry, with the untitled Bravehearts often downplayed over the past few decades. In the EM group stage, the teams were drawn 0–0. After this Scotland dropped out. In fact, most Scots should keep their fingers crossed for Azuri against their old rivals on Sunday.
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