The Italian national anthem is always sung particularly passionately at football games. This is also the case at the European Championships in 2024.
Rome - Things can get emotional at a football game. Especially in international matches, there is often more at stake than victory or defeat. The pride of the nation often stands or falls with the performance of the respective team in major tournaments - for example at the European Championships in 2024.
Traditionally, the respective national anthems are played before every international match. In the case of Italy, it has often become clear how passionate the Squadra Azzurra players are. Some people no longer sing the anthem, they shout it! But what is the “Canto degli Italiani” actually about?
Italy and its national anthem: it took forever to gain official status
The song has its origins in the 19th century. The poet Goffredo Mameli wrote the text in 1847, and the composer Michele Novaro provided the accompanying music. Both came from Genoa, where the song was finally performed - although it took a long time before “Fratelli d'Italia” was officially declared the Italian national anthem. It has always been popular with citizens and was used as a makeshift anthem from 1946 onwards. But it was only in 2017 that it was enshrined in law that the “Inno di Mameli” is the song of the Italians.
With a look at the text it quickly becomes clear why the Italian players belt out the lines so fervently and with passion. Similar to the world-famous Marseillaise, it is a war song. The Italian national movement of the 19th century (Risorgimento) aimed to found a unified state. Mameli ultimately wrote the text under the impression of the democratic revolution that was breaking out and the impending war of freedom against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He himself died in 1849 at the age of just 21 as a result of an injury inflicted on him by a fellow soldier defending the Republic of Rome from French intervention.
Italian national anthem: what will the players sing at Euro 2024?
Fratelli d'Italia,
L'Italia s'è desta,
Dell'elmo di Scipio
S'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Che schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Stringiàmci a coòrte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
L'Italia chiamò.
Stringiàmci a coòrte,
Siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
L'Italia chiamò! Si!
German translation:
Brothers of Italy,
Italy has risen and has
adorned its head
with Scipio's helmet .
Where is the goddess of victory Victoria? May she bow her head to Italy, For God created her as a slave of Rome .
Let's close ranks,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called!
Let's close ranks,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called! Yes!
Italian national anthem delights fans all over the world
In addition to the Scottish anthem, the Italian anthem is probably the most popular at the 2024 European Championship - especially because of the passionate players. A picture of the Italian U21s at the 2019 European Championship is also legendary: Riccardo Orsolini, Federico Chiesa and Patrick Cutrone roared their love for their home country so loudly that the ears of a kid in front of them rang (see photo above).
(akl)