The long-awaited Freedom Day has come.
Freedom Day is set to be July 19th and it is the day when the British people will finally be able to free themselves from all the restrictions imposed during the pandemic.
It has been sadly postponed many times but this time it seems a reality.
The British authorities and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have in fact announced the complete lift of the measures from the lockdown regime introduced in England the first time in 2020.
The lift has been postponed by almost a month from the date it was originally set in recent weeks, which was originally set for June 21st and now it is July 19th or so we hope.
The Prime Minister said at a press conference in Downing Street that the UK needed more time to administer vaccines to those in need who could not or have not done it yet.
In the meantime I enjoyed some regained freedom going out to a local Italian bar to watch the Euro Cup final.
We knew it would be painful. It was written, announced, practically taken for granted, because when Italy and a football final are involved, whether it is a Euro or a World Cup, we know for sure that it will never be a piece of cake.
All the more so on this occasion, which saw us play against all odds in the arena of Wembley, the lion's den.
I decided to watch the game at an Italian bar here in London because I couldn’t watch it in a regular sports bar as I would have felt lonely supporting Italy amongst my fellow British Londoners.
I knew that back home a whole country was in front of the screen, with a lot of tension and little appetite, especially after the English goal arrived when we were still looking for the right position on our seats and being in an Italian bar was almost like being back home.
The atmosphere, the food, the jokes, the joy (at the end)…all familiar elements were there.
After England we scored too and there was silence all over London and you could only hear us Italians scream with joy.
Unfortunately ninety minutes were not enough, as often happens when there is in or out at stake, and not even 120 sufficed.
So, as against Spain in the previous game, the lottery of penalties saw us triumph, right in home of our opponents, who for days had believed they already had the cup in their pocket.
But that ‘coming home’ that is now at the centre of our (Italians’) teasing has been renamed ‘coming to Rome.’
Let's remember that English people love football but this sport in Italy is more than just a beloved game, it is supported and played by a very high percentage of Italians, young and old, from those who dream of becoming a champion to those who have fun with friends and it’s – no joke – almost a “religion.”
When the national team plays friends and families reunite and Italians become very patriotic whether they are in Italy or expats abroad.
We, Italian Londoners, enjoyed our victory, achieved with a great journey and a wonderful tournament but as British residents we didn’t in any way want to be disrespectful to our ‘hosts.’
Yes, it's true, football is just a sport, but waking up as European Champions, even if after a few hours of sleep, was a unique feeling especially living in England...
I felt proud.
Now we are just waiting for July 19th to celebrate our ‘’win’’ against Coronavirus, a more important win.


P.S.
(I haven’t taken any photos, I was too excited last night)