Previous football tournaments have drawn big gatherings of Bedford’s Italian community. But standing in his pizzeria wearing an Italy shirt and surrounded by red, white and green flags, Alfonso Bravoco says that this time feels different.
Not only will the Euro 2020 clash on Sunday feature a first final between England and Italy, but for Bedford – which is home to an estimated Italian community of 14,000 – it’s extra special. It would not have been the same with any country other than England in the final, says the 53-year-old Bravoco.
He hadn’t planned to open his Mamma Concetta restaurant on Sunday but since Italy won their dramatic semi-final penalty shootout with Spain last Tuesday he’s had so many calls from customers that he’s thinking about it. “The atmosphere’s been electric,” he says.
Bedford has had a large Italian population since the 1950s when many moved to the area, largely to work in the brickworks industry. Today, the market town has one of the UK’s biggest Italian populations.
Bravoco, whose wife is English and will be supporting England on Sunday, has shown both teams’ matches on screens around the restaurant. While he says it’s been at the back of people’s minds that Italy may have to face England, “now that it’s actually happening, we can’t believe it”. If Italy win, he says he will head to Bedford’s Embankment – the scene of jubilant Italian celebrations last Tuesday night.
Sonia de Santi, 50, who works at the restaurant, said the dining room “exploded” when Italy got through to the final. But, she says, on Sunday she will be rooting for England from her garden. “I do love Italy as well but I feel like England is my first home, so that is why they have to win.”
Behind the bar at nearby Club Italia, Francesco Derrico, 54, says he’s struggling to contain his nerves. “I can’t relax. Since we played Spain I can’t sleep at night.” He predicts the final score will be 2-1 to Italy.
Michael Bianco, 37, is less optimistic, predicting 1-0 to England, but he says enthusiasm for Sunday, when they’ll be showing the game on several screens and serving Italian beers, has been huge. “I’ve had phone calls galore,” he says.
Scenes of celebration from Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph over France are memorialised in photos on the walls and there’s a big picture of Italian football star Roberto Baggio. Then, club owner Angelo Russo, 72, had “Forza Italia” emblazoned on the side of his car. This time, against England, he says: “I’ll be waving two flags.”
Vince Spiniello, 42, who’s going to be watching the game at home with his family, says: “It’s going to be a great atmosphere, we’ll see what’s going to happen. It’ll be interesting. It’s the first time we’ve met England in a final.” The restaurant owner says England are good, “but not good enough” to beat Italy.
Bedford MP Mohammad Yasin tweeted after England’s semi-final win over Denmark that an England-Italy final was a “win win for Bedford”.
Father and son Joseph and Liberato Lionetti, who run La Piazza cafe together, say they will be watching the match separately and wearing the same T-shirts they were in when the tournament started last month so as not to “jinx it”.
Liberato, 55, says he will be ecstatic if Italy win but that celebrations might be a little muted compared to previous times.
Joseph, 27, believes the Euros have been a welcome relief after a “bad year for everyone”. He says having won Eurovision (with Måneskin in May) and got through to the Wimbledon men’s final (Italian Matteo Berrettini plays Novak Djokovic on Sunday) as well as the Euro 2020 final, Italy is on a winning streak, but that he will be happy if England win too.
“Regardless who wins we want everyone to enjoy it, to have a really good time,” he says. “Either way, it’s coming home to Bedford.”
