(14-07-2021, 00:14)0762 Wrote: Watching yesterday's euphoric scenes in Italy when Mancini and his Azzurri heroes returned from England with the Henri Delaunay trophy deservedly won and "in the bag". And what a great story that unfolded re the trophy spotted lying next to a Scottish newspaper on a table in the Rome bound plane - Saturday's edition of The National in full view with the front page depicting a "photoshopped" Braveheart character (blue-painted face n all) of Mancini with a caption - Save us Roberto, You're our final hope!!! The Italian football team somehow acquired a copy of The National before the Euro final at Wembley and Mancini and that great defender/warrior, Chiellini, talking to the Italian media, both saying it was absolutely hilarious and they all loved it!!! A Scottish link to this deserved final win by Italy!! You couldn't make it up!!And Mancini now nicknamed Roberto the Bruce lol! Priceless!
Just looking at the IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation) response/rejection to lotsa complaints/insinuations from England fans that the National front page article of Braveheart Mancini was "anti-English" (heard that line before in another context btw!!! Becomes a tad tedious and desperate/bogus TBF!!). IPSO officials chucking out the complaint and iterating there is no mention of the word "English" in the headline or article. Indeed that front page was embraced in lotsa Euro newspapers in their sports sections and the fact it was a well presented humorous depiction of Italy's manager through a Scottish perspective and vast numbers of people in Italy and elsewhere viewed it in that context. In certain Italian sports circles they found it to be as intended - absolutely hilarious banter!! IMO what actually happened was this National front page headline preceded (Saturday edition) the Euro final on Sunday when England were supposed to win (their press/media were prematurely salivating at the prospect!) their first Euro trophy at their home ground, Wembley Stadium - they didn't do it and that defeat was a huge factor in generating all these complaints from bitterly disappointed fans down south and elsewhere who were eventually looking for sources of blame incl the England players who missed their crucial pks, and the manager, Southgate, in a public/political "fallout" that must have lasted an amazing 4-5 days.