Italy's football friendship pact

Italy's football friendship pact

A town dubbed the "most Scottish in Italy" has paid tribute to the football links between the nations on the eve of their showdown at Hampden.
The mayor of Barga in Tuscany has unveiled a photographic tribute to Scots-born player Johnny Moscardini outside the stadium named after him.

A spokesman for the local council said it was a "sign of further friendship" between the town and Scotland.

Mayor Umberto Sereni will also attend the match in Glasgow on Saturday.

A large number of Scottish Italians can trace their roots back to the Tuscan hill town.

One of their number was Moscardini, the Falkirk-born footballer who played for the Italian national team in the 1920s.

Cultivated links

Over the years Barga has done more and more to celebrate these national links.

Every year it stages a fish and chip festival.

It also awards St Cristopher medals to its sons and daughters - many of whom are Scottish Italians.

Mr Sereni has cultivated these links and said he wanted to honour Moscardini - the only Scottish-born man to play for Italy - on the eve of the clash between the two nations in Glasgow.

However, his goodwill did not extend to his forecast of the final score at Hampden.

"I predict 3-1 to Italy - and I never get these things wrong!" he said.