By Maire Rowland
As an Irish person living in Tirana during the Euros I have experienced enthusiastic and infectious football fever that makes me feel right at home.
In 1990 the Irish lost their minds. For the first time ever the Republic of Ireland had qualified for a World Cup. People scrapped together all their savings, clamoured for tickets to the competition in Italy, songs were writted, banners were created and footballing heroes were cemented in the nation’s pscyhe for decades to come. Italia 90′ was more than a football competition to the people of Ireland, it was the first time we had a seat at the international table, an occasion to celebrate, a moment to feel proud. Albania’s qualification for the Euros in France inspires similar sentiments to those of the Irish in 1990. A small country, insignificant to the major powers, a tiny population that brims with pride for its countrymen and culture.
The comments made by football superstar and Portugese captain Cristiano Ronaldo highlights the different meaning participating in the Euros has for a small country. The Real Madrid striker scoffed at the enthusiastic celebrations of the Icelandic team after they drew 1-1 with Portugal. To him, a world class footballer who has participated in numerous World Cups and Euros with Portugal, it was bewildering that a team could get so excited about a draw. He failed to understand that for the Icelandic team and their proud supporters, the fact that they have an opportunity to play in a competition like the Euros and hold their own against the big and established teams like Portugal is a big deal. Small teams do not arrive at competitions expecting to win but either do us scappy underdogs expect to lose. We expect to take part, fight gallantly, sing until we are hoarse, befriend other supporters, have fun and be proud.
This year’s Euros in France have been marred with unpleasant headlines. The violent actions of a minority of supporters threatens to overshadow the competition. This nasty element of football supporters is something that any decent sports fan deplores. By creating havoc and descending into thuggery, these unpalatable hooligans give a bad name to football as a game and their supporters. In complete contrast to this, since the competition has begun everyday my heart has been warmed by videos of Albanian and Irish supporters singing, dancing and laughing with opposition fans. My Facebook news feed is awash with Irish fans singing ABBA duets with Swedish fans and Albanian supporters teaching their French counterparts traditional dances. I am bursting with pride for the manner in which both the Irish and Albanian fans have behaved in France. Yet another comparison I feel comfortable noting between our distant and tiny nations.
And so dear Albania, I have watched the qualifiers and the two matches you have played in the competition, I have felt just as passionate as when the Irish team have played. You are a treasure to support, your relentless optimism in the face of a mammoth task is a wonder to behold and despite the results thus far, the scoreboard does not reflect the battles your team has fought and how well they have perservered. I believe that Euro ’16 will be something that Albanians will remember with warmth and happiness for decades to come, just as Italia ’90 is in Ireland.
