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Italy gets an ego boost
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| Contributor | IndyGeorgia |
| Last Edited | IndyGeorgia Jul 13, 2021 10:32am |
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| Category | Perspective |
| Author | Hannah Roberts |
| News Date | Tuesday, July 13, 2021 10:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | ROME — Italy is on a roll.
The country erupted in euphoria after the men’s national football team defeated England on penalties to win Euro 2020 late on Sunday night. But even in this football-obsessed nation, the victory was about more than sport.
For many Italians, it reflected a bigger surge in national confidence.
The triumph was the latest in a series of developments — some trivial, some more serious — that have dramatically lifted the national mood this year, after a horrific 2020 dominated by the pandemic.
On the political front, the appointment in February of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the former European Central Bank chief credited with saving the euro, brought an instant boost in international credibility.
After years of being seen as a fiscal problem child, Italy won smooth approval from the European Commission for its post-pandemic economic recovery plan, which looks set to be waved through by other EU governments. That will unlock billions in funds from the EU.
In the sporting arena, Italians on Sunday celebrated not just winning Euro 2020 but also having a men’s finalist at Wimbledon. Matteo Berrettini may have lost to the mighty Novak Djoković but just getting to the final was a first for him — and he even managed to give the Serb a scare by winning the first set.
There has been showbusiness success too — Italian band Måneskin won the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
Economically, things are also looking up. Draghi’s presence at the head of government has helped cut Italian borrowing costs and GDP is forecast to grow 4 percent this year. |
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