in-cumbria

Happy couple turn rivals for England’s Euro clash

Last updated at 11:51, Saturday, 23 June 2012

DANIEL Bradshaw and Valentina Cozzolino are all smiles today(sat) as they celebrate their second anniversary, but come 7.45pm tomorrow their relationship will be put on hold.

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Football-induced fanaticism is one of the few forces that can overpower true love – at least temporarily – and their allegiances will be divided when England takes on Italy.

Mr Bradshaw, 27, is a staunch Three Lions supporter who believes Roy Hodgson’s team might just be building towards something special at Euro 2012.

But his girlfriend Ms Cozzolino, who he lives with at their home in Grange Crescent, Barrow, is a native of Naples whose admiration for the Azzurri cannot be shaken despite having lived, worked and studied in England for two years.

But the Barrow couple, who work together at Paulo Giannis restaurant in Cavendish Street, are used to football rivalries testing their relationship.

Last year Ms Cozzolino, 26, secured bragging rights when Napoli sealed the departure of Mr Bradshaw’s club side, Manchester City, from the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat.

And now he is hoping for some revenge.

“If I’m being truthful, I think it’s going to go all the way to extra time,” he said.

“I think it will be a very close game and I’m going to say that England will win on penalties. I think we look very, very hard to beat, but we haven’t unleashed the forwards yet and really started attacking.

“Now that Rooney’s back hopefully we’ll have a bit more ammunition and start looking more dangerous going forward.”

Not surprisingly, Ms Cozzolino disagrees and is predicting enigmatic City striker Mario Balotelli will dash both England’s and her boyfriend’s hopes. “I think it’s going to be a very balanced game, but I’m thinking one nil to Italy,” she said.

“I think Balotelli will score.

“I really, really trust him. He won’t do anything stupid this time hopefully.”

An England win will see the team reach the European Championship semi-finals for the first time since 1996.

The match kicks off at 7.45pm on BBC1.

First published at 10:37, Saturday, 23 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk