If you could distil jubilation into ink and put it on newsprint, you would have the front pages of Wednesday's Italian papers.
"We love you", cried Corriere della Sport in a headline type taller than the heels of a WAG's sandals. "Historic Italy - we're in the final", trumpeted La Repubblica.
The Berlusconi family's newspaper, Il Giornale, could not resist making a subliminal political reference with a headline that proclaimed "Blue triumph" - blue being the colour, not only of the Italian national side, but also of Silvio Berlusconi's party.
Rarely, though, has there been quite such unanimity in Italy's newspapers - or quite so much undiluted admiration. The sages who allot marks for footballing merit are notoriously parsimonious with their points. An eight represents virtual perfection. Yet Corriere dello Sport was happy to award 8.5 to Fabio Grosso, the scorer of Italy's breakthrough goal.
La Stampa's columnist, Massimo Gramellini, thought it was all down to national character. "We're made like that," he began. Italy's victory arose from a fraction of a second of inspired insanity on the part of the Palermo midfielder.
"Grosso latched onto a ball that was worth a place in the World Cup final and volleyed it. No one with any sense volleys a ball worth a place in the World Cup final. You need that particular quality that is nurtured, in equal parts, by courage and recklessness," Gramellini wrote.
But neither he nor anyone else denied this was a team - indeed, a squad - triumph. "They gave their all," wrote La Stampa's match reporter. "So, at the end, they had it all: the final, the glory, and the world's applause."
Underlying the joy were feelings of sweet revenge. The British are not the only ones who habitually pick bones with the Germans. The run-up to last night's match was spiced by a running press war that began with an article in Der Spiegel criticising the Italians and ended with calls in Germany for a pizza boycott. "We're in the final. Us. The pizza chefs. All in a line behind our capitan, Fabio Cannavaro, who comes from the city of pizza," wrote Gazzetta dello Sport with malicious delight.
Tempting providence, the Rome daily, Il Messaggero, was already certain Italy would win in the final.
"Against whom - France or Portugal - we shall know this evening. [But] ... this Italy now can beat anyone. Martians included."
