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.
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
Editor's picks
- Cumbria's superfast broadband delayed by EU red tape again
- Pirelli factory death probe ordered tougher safety measures
- Dangerous machines among H&S offences in Carlisle area
- Slurry lagoons and asthma causing chemicals among Eden safety issues
- Factory heat could be used to warm 30,000 Cumbrian homes
- Businesses urged to get behind university's new business school
- Cumbria sets up links with Chinese university
- Patchy broadband damaging rural businesses (4 comments)
- £4m fund launched to help Cumbrian firms
- City predicts parts of Stobart Group will be sold
More news
- £100m turnover in sight for Cumbrian recruitment firm
- Struggling M&S failing to impress Carlisle shoppers (2 comments)
- Give small shops rate relief like charities, says Cumbrian MP
- Cumbrian success in Visit England awards
- Profits plunge for West Coast Mainline bidder FirstGroup
- Empty Hoopers store in Carlisle poised for £1m sale
- Rail workers threaten ballot over ‘skimpy’ Virgin Trains uniforms
Vote
New vacancies
Useful links
BBC News business headlines
in-cumbria features
Investment to increase capacity at Carlisle’s Lanes shopping centre is on the cards following a change of ownership. 
What brought one of the most advanced performance management systems to Cumbria?
Cumbria business women make waves on the west coast - Empty Hoopers store in Carlisle poised for £1m sale
- Rail workers threaten ballot over ‘skimpy’ Virgin Trains uniforms
- Cumbrian firms missing the boat over apprentices
- Stobart Group boss hopes for flights from Carlisle next summer
- Carlisle's new aparthotel could open by Christmas
- Cumbria LEP seeks commission members
- Profits down at Jennings Brothers owner
- Workington store closing (1 comment)
- Fish factory axes 40 jobs after loss of key contract (1 comment)
- Don’t smash your caravan - sell to me!
- Tributes paid to teenager who died suddenly in hospital
- Former Hoopers shop in Carlisle sold at auction
- Cumbria crusade against metal theft continues
- Tour of Britain: Cumbrian route details revealed
- Two guilty of murdering man outside his Carlisle home
- Whitehaven Musical Festival
- 100s of women walk to remember in Barrow and Ulverston (3 comments)
- Copeland MP Jamie Reed calls for hospitals crisis summit
- Carlisle driver crashed car on way to hospital
- Cumbrian farmers have to pay for disposal of livestock killed in snow
Have your say
Be the first to comment on this article!
Make your comment