- Title: ITALY: FANS HEARTBROKEN AFTER EURO 2000 FINAL DEFEAT.
- Date: 2nd July 2000
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (JULY 2, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. ITALIAN SOCCER FANS WATCHING BIG-SCREEN TELEVISION AT CASTEL SANTANGELO 2. ITALIAN FANS WITH NATIONAL FLAGS SINGING 3. WIDE VIEW OF ITALIANS WATCHING MATCH 4. ITALIAN BOY DRESSED IN TEAM SHIRT AND FLAG REACTING TO NEAR MISS 5. ITALIAN SUPPORTERS CHEERING 6. GROUP OF FRENCH SUPPORTERS STANDING AMONGST ITALIAN FANS WITH FRENCH FLAGS AND TRICOLOUR-PAINTED FACES 8. FRENCH FANS 7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH SUPPORTER RONAN DE ROTALIER WHEN ASKED IF THEY HAVE BEEN MADE WELCOME: "Yes - they still refuse to admit that the French guys are better but they support themselves." 9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH SUPPORTER LEVON KECHICHIAN SAYING: "The Italians are afraid of Zidane and the French are scared of the Italian defence." 10. ITALIAN OLD MAN SLEEPING AS SUPPORTERS WATCH MATCH 11. ITALIAN WOMAN SUPPORTER CHEERING 12. ITALIAN SUPPORTERS CHEERING AS ITALIAN GOAL IS SCORED 13. CLOSE-UP OF ITALIAN SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING 14. ITALIANS WATCHING EXTRA TIME ON BIG SCREEN 15. ITALIAN SUPPORTERS REACTING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISBELIEF AS FRENCH SCORE 16. SHOCKED ITALIAN SUPPORTERS AT END OF MATCH AFTER FRENCH SCORE GOLDEN GOAL 16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN SUPPORTER MASSIMILIANO MANNENELLI SAYING: "The problem was that we deserved to win tonight but we lost - if we had lost to Holland that would be OK - but tonight its not - we cannot accept. If you lose two goals in front of the goalkeeper that's the result." 17. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) UNIDENTIFIED ITALIAN SUPPORTERS SAYING: "It is impossible to miss two goals - if we had scored them we would have won 2-1 - but despite this we still support Juventus. 18. DEJECTED ITALIAN FAN SITTING ON CHAIR AFTER MATCH Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th July 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA9Q10MURIX1ZP51C6KG8GM750T
- Story Text: Shocked Italian soccer fans were forced to watch in
horror as their national team gave away an early lead to lose
2-1 to France in the final of the Euro 2000 championships.
About 2,000 Italians fans packed a park near Castel
SantAngelo in Rome on Sunday (July 2) to watch their national
team on a big-screen television in the final of the Euro 2000
championship. It was one of a number of locations in the city
where Italian supporters gathered to watch the match.
A group of about 15 French supporters stood side by side
with the Italians to watch the game. They stood watching the
match with tricolour-painted faces and French flags held aloft
but said they had been made to feel welcome.
French supporter Ronan de Rotalier said: "Yes - they still
refuse to admit that the French guys are better but they
support their team themselves."
Another French supporter Levon Kechichian said: "The
Italians are afraid of Zidane and the French are scared of the
Italian defence."
Italian supporters cheered as their national team scored
the first goal at the start of the second half but watched in
shocked disbelief as France equalised in the third minute of
extra time. Frances winning Golden Goal was accompanied by
silent dismay.
After the match had ended one fan, Italian Massimiliano
Mannelli, said: "The problem was that we deserved to win
tonight but we lost - if we had lost to Holland that would be
OK - but tonight its not - we cannot accept (it). If you lose
(miss) two goals in front of the goalkeeper that's the result."
Another Italian supporter, disgusted with the result,
said: "It is impossible to miss two goals - if we had scored
them we would have won 2-1 - but despite this we still support
Juventus!"
Others were too shocked for words. One man, who had been
assured of victory, sat in stony silence at the end of the
match after others had left. Others sat with their heads in
their hands.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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