The supporters of the semi-final between Italy and Spain gathered on Tuesday afternoon at their favorite establishment in Montreal to cheer on their respective teams … And even on our side of the Atlantic, the atmosphere was in fire!
• Read also: Euro: Italy eliminates Spain and advances to the final
In a match that kept both teams in suspense until the very end, the nervousness was palpable among the Italian and Spanish communities of Montreal.
It was at the Spanish Club of Quebec, located on Boulevard St-Laurent, that a large part of Spain’s supporters gathered for the event. A little less than an hour before the start of the game, the Club was already packed, explains one of the administrators of the place, Enrique Aroz. “Here, there are Spaniards, sons of Spaniards, friends of Spaniards … Everyone has a link, near or far, with Spain.” Friends, family, Spanish blood or not, each table has its own story.
Marie-Anne Sanchez, a Spanish fan present at the establishment with her family, told us that her father was a big fan of soccer and that her family is listening to it today in his honor. One of his sons is himself a soccer player at an elite level, which shows that sport is an integral part of their daily lives.
Joël Lemay / QMI Agency
Victor-Manuel Rodriguez and his son Victor watch the match at the Spanish Club.
Victor-Manuel Rodriguez, seated a little further away with his son Victor, also had a rather particular story. “I am Spanish, and the mother of my son is Italian … So he has always been caught between the two!”, He explained in an interview with the 24 hours.
The euro at your fingertips
On the Little Italy side, the entire neighborhood was lively, in the restaurants as well as on the terraces. The Italian community of Montreal was downright riveted to the screens installed all over the streets, fingers crossed. While Spain gave their opponent a hard time by creating a tie in the second half, it was in a shoot-off that the Italian team managed to break the mark of 1-1 … and to trigger a rain that seemed almost staged thanks to his sense of timing!
Joël Lemay / QMI Agency
The crowd celebrates the winning goal of Italy, which thus advances to the final of the Euro, on the terrace of the Café Gelato.
The Vignola family, sports enthusiasts in general, could not be happier to attend a game symbolizing their origins in Little Italy, they who live on the South Shore of Montreal. For Steve Vignola and his son Alexis, it is the international character of soccer that makes this sport so unifying. “No one knows that I, a tall red-haired blond, am Italian. But when I come here and see the diversity of nationalities, I think soccer is one of the most [accessibles internationalement]», Expresses Alexis.
Disappointment among soccer fans
It is also with great disappointment that all the fans we met reacted to the withdrawal of the City of Montreal to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “There are a lot of players. soccer in Montreal, we don’t think about it. Nor for viewing away games, like those of the Montreal Canadiens, for example, ”he adds.
Joël Lemay / QMI Agency
The supporters quickly buried the sidewalks of Montreal’s Little Italy neighborhood to claim victory around 6 p.m.
The supporters quickly buried the sidewalks of Montreal’s Little Italy neighborhood to claim victory around 6 p.m., the green-white-red flag in hand. Despite the fireworks and the incessant horns of passing cars, it is the Beautiful Hello Italian mixed with Ole Ole Quebecers that we could hear in the distance: like what soccer brings together more Quebecers than we think.
Remember that we will know the identity of the second team to reach the final of Euro 2020 – England or Denmark – Wednesday afternoon.
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