He was only joking, but Tony Nero told all employees they had better be wearing red, white and green, the colours of Italy's national flag, when they reported for work Tuesday.
Most aren't Italian, but they all did and Nero, the
owner of two Carstar Auto Repairs shops in Greater Sudbury and
president of the Caruso Club, will be proudly wearing those
same colours Sunday when Italy's national soccer team
competes in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
"I told all my guys they had better be wearing the Italian
team T-shirts when they came to work (for the semi-final
against the host Germans) or else and everyone did," said
Nero laughing.
Nero will join what will be an overflow crowd for Sunday's
World Cup final at the Caruso Club when Italy takes on France
in a game expected to be watched by more than two billion
around the world.
The World Cup is the world's biggest sporting event and
having Italy in the final is a dream come true for organizers
of Sudbury's 34th Annual Italian Festival, said John
Cimino, general manager of the Caruso Club.
Italy has never been in the finals of the World Cup, held every
four years, in the 34-year history of Sudbury's annual
Italian Festival, which always takes place the weekend after
the Canada Day long weekend, said Cimino.
"Having Italy in the finals has changed everything trying
to get ready for this year's festival," said Cimino.
"I've had to rent an extra big screen, but I did that
a few weeks ago because I knew Italy would be in the finals.
"I expect the biggest crowds we've ever had for the
festival...it's going to be crazy around here."
Cimino's had to hire numerous additional staff to help feed
and serve the huge crowds he expects for the championship game,
set to begin at 2 pm Eastern time.
"We'll have televisions all over the place," he
said. "It's going to be crazy and fun, but a very good
atmosphere."
Like most Italians, Nero and Cimino bleed red, white and green,
the colours of the national flag and are diehard fans of The
Azzurri, the nickname of the Italian national soccer team.
Nero has numerous Italian flags hanging around both his auto
repair shops, one on Regent St. and the other on Armstrong St.
in the city's South End.
Nero, who emigrated to Canada from Italy in 1978, played soccer
in Sudbury's senior men's league for C.S. Italia for
almost a decade until getting married and starting a family.
Canadians know all too well how hockey is a national pastime
many treat with near-religious fervour and it's no
different for Italians and soccer, said Nero.
"For myself and the others from the old country and
millions of people all around the world, soccer is our number
one sport and the game we love," he said. "It's
the beautiful game . . . anyone can play because it and
children learn to love the game from the time they are
born."
Italy has proven to be one of the very best soccer nations and
that's a great source of pride for Italians around the
globe, said Nero.
He proudly notes Italy captured its third World Cup back in
1982, made the semi-finals in 1990 only to lose in penalty
kicks in the semi-final to Argentina and lost in the finals
four years ago to Brazil, again on penalty kicks.
No other team can match Italy's World Cup record over the
past quarter century, he said.
"I do hope and believe this will again be our year in
2006," said Nero. "This time it will not go to
penalty kicks and we will win 1-0 or 2-0 . . . I honestly
believe we have the best team because every one of our players
is capable of scoring goals.
"Italy has scored 10 goals in this World Cup and nine
different players have scored. We also have the best goaltender
in the world in Buffon. I know on Sunday afternoon we will
again win the World Cup and what a party it will be."
Joe Colussi, who came to Canada from Italy 52 years ago, was
quietly sharing a beer with a friend Wednesday afternoon as
France defeated Portugal 1-0 Wednesday afternoon at the Caruso
Club, to earn the right to play Italy  Sunday.
He's proud Italy has again made the World Cup final and
also believes they will be victorious in a game as many as two
billion people are expected to watch.
"At least we have the chance to win and there are only two
teams and two countries that have that chance," he said.
He also played soccer as a youngster and says it's the
world's most popular game for good reason.
"All you need is a pair of shoes and a ball and that means
any kid can play," he said.
The upper hall at the Caruso Club can hold several hundred
patrons, but because demand will be so high, Cimino warns fans
to arrive early for a good seat.
If Italy wins, Cimino guarantees many employers will be getting
calls Monday from workers of Italian descent who will be far
too ill to report for duty.
"We're going to win and what a party we're going
to have," he said.
