MONTREAL —
Those walking or driving in Montreal today will likely be unable to avoid the Euro cup vibe.
It’s blue versus white, glasses of red wine versus pints of lager, espressos versus cups of tea, fettucini versus fish and chips.
It’s Italy v. England, UEFA Euro 2020 cup final.
Depending on the neighbourhood on the island, stressed-out soccer fans in either blue or white will be out staring at screens holding their breath, wincing, scowling, and maybe swearing as the two teams square off at 3 p.m. (EUFA postponed kickoff a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but kept the “2020” moniker.)
At Evangelista Sports on Saint-Laurent Blvd. in Little Italy, Italian and England jerseys are sold out.
“The first game of Italy, all the jerseys were bought,” said manager Julio Fernandez. “As soon as they (England) hit the semi-finals, they sold out.”
Fernandez said the street has been predictably hopping for each Azzurri game, and he’s expected flags, fans and noise when the game starts.
“I feel we have more experience to beat England. I think 2-0 Italy,” said Michael Michetti, who is planning a party on Maurice Duplessis Blvd. in Riviere-des-Prairies… if Italy wins at England’s iconic Wembley Stadium.
“Although England’s fans are very passionate, I think as long as Italy doesn’t let England’s fans get to their heads, I think they should be able to pull through,” said Michetti.
It is the first time England has reached a major international tournament final since 1966 when England beat Germany to win the World Cup.
Italy won the Euro two years later in 1968 and also took home the World Cup in 1982 and 2006. It’s Italy’s third trip to the Euro finals this century having fallen in the final game in 2000 and 2012.
England fan Danny Payne caught the England v. Denmark game at Bowhead Pub down the street from Little Italy on Saint-Laurent Blvd. and Pins Ave., but he’ll stay home for the final watching the game with his dad via a video link in West Yorkshire.
“It’s coming Rome,” he joked. “Home advantage does give a wee bit of hope, but I can’t see those grizzled old Italian defenders (Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci) and the fearless youngsters being too bothered about the fans.”
“It’s Coming Home” was the theme song for the Three Lions in 1996 for the Euros that were that has since become a recurring, hopeful cliche among English fans and pundits.
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The British-style pub Pub Bishop & Bagg is located near Montreal’s Little Italy neighbourhood, so manager Megan Turcotte expects to see supporters of both teams.
“People are super excited, it brings everyone together,” she said. “They drink a lot and they are loud. Some even sit in the streets and watch from afar on our televisions.”
Roland Lamote of Montreal said he played soccer when he was younger, but now watching the games keeps him going.
He’s lived in Little Italy his whole life, so rooting for Italy feels like supporting his home team, he said.
“With the Montreal Canadiens, I was so, so so disappointed,” Lamote said lamenting the Habs’ loss in the Stanley Cup finals last week. “But at least we have this football game now.”
Italian Anthony Colaniro has never seen Italy win the Euro cup before and doesn’t want to miss his chance.
“It’s all about Italy, of course!” he said. “I will be watching the game with my family — 20 people — and a lot of food!”
Burgundy Lion hostess Maggie Morris will be hoping “it’s coming home” as England faces Italy in the Euro cup finals July 11, 2021. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)
Bowhead Pub opened in 2019 and manager Peter Lennox said the Euro has given the pub a shot in the arm after a tough year of COVID-19 pandemic.
“At the beginning, we were trying to attract German, English and French,” said Lennox. “I’m English born and raised, and I lived in France for 12 years, and my partner is from Germany and we had a big demand for German games.”
While French and German fans remain with thoughts of what could have been, Bowhead’s English fans will be ready today.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
