A pub has declared itself the unofficial venue of Ireland’s “Italy supporters club” ahead of the game against England tonight.
The team at The Harp on Pouladuff Road in Cork will offer free pizza to every table as Mancini’s men take on the home team at Wembley.
Insisting “football’s coming to Rome” ahead of the clash, they are adding a free beer to the package to get the party started Leeside.
Meanwhile, Leo Pagnani, who runs Presto in Beggar’s Bush, South Dublin, is offering customers a free bag of chips with orders today.
Mr Pagnani is originally from near Montecassino in Italy’s Lazio region, where many emigrated to Ireland from to set-up Italian chippers since the 1880s.
The Juventus fan told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “We’ll be watching the game and make the Irish proud beating England.
“We’re going to win but even if we lose we’ll still look after the customers.”
The family-run Fairview Grill in North Dublin already has Italian flags up and t-shirts at the ready for the big game. Owner Maria Rea, whose parents are both Italian, has been running the business since 2001 and will be working today.
She said: “Us Italians we seem to get on very well with the Irish.
“The Italian-Irish community is huge and that’s been going on for about 50 or 60 years.”
The owner of Luigi’s in Monasterevin, Co Kildare – Luigi Iafrate – opened his restaurant in 1987. He told the Irish Sunday Mirror there was great excitement among staff and customers and said the Euro had provided a boost to business.
Mr Lafrate joked: “I’m excited because my mother country is there, but also the fact I’m in Ireland 54 years.
“I love to see them winning because they were going through a bit of a doldrum so it was nice to see them coming back with such a young side.”
Due to supplies, he’s postponed an offer for an Italian win to Thursday night to celebrate – a half pounder burger and chips at half price at €3.50.
The Rebel county has a strong vocal Italian population, while politicians have also been nailing their colours to the mast.
In the England camp is TD Simon Coveney, while there’ll also be a good few Douglas relatives of Declan Rice who’ll be cheering him on too.
Meanwhile, Italian fans across the UK are hoping the Azurri can spoil England’s party.
Thousands of supporters are expected to pack into Italian bars and restaurants to cheer their team on against the Three Lions.
In Bedford — known as the UK’s Little Italy for its large population of ex-pats — bosses at the Club Italia social club are planning a “big party”.
Manager Francesco Derrico said: “It’s going to very tense, but it’s going to be a good atmosphere.
“Bedford is the Little Italy of the UK. We have been celebrating and getting behind the team. Everybody’s happy.”
Mr Derrico, 54, who moved to the UK from Puglia 35 years ago, added: “It’s going to be 2-1 to Italy. I’m confident. It’s going to be a big party afterwards.”
