An Italian restaurant owner has spoken about how England is his "home" after moving to Merseyside 32 years ago from his home town, Messina.
Onofrio Maimone, who owns the popular Italian restaurant Volare in Southport, is set to close the restaurant so English and Italian employees alike can enjoy the match.
"At the end of the day it's just a game, that's how I see it, it's not war. The reason why we're closing is because everybody wants to watch the match. It's like when you ask people to work on Christmas Day, nobody wants to work!
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"This is the same situation now, everybody wants to watch the match and I don't think we would have many customers anyway. Might as well make everybody happy and make myself happy as well."
The 57-year-old calls Southport his home after settling down in the seaside town with a family. He met his Italian partner in the town, with them having a son, Jason 30, and two grandchildren, Luca, five, and Leonardo, one.
He said: "When people ask me 'when are you going home?' I say 'I am home!'. When I go to see my parents or relatives I just feel like I don't belong there anymore. This is my home and these are my people. I've been here too long!"
Onofrio had his own thoughts ahead of the big game on Sunday believing that England could edge it due to the home advantage of playing at Wembley.
The restaurant owner told the ECHO: "Italy are the stronger team but England are playing at home and that is another thing to consider. I don't know. My heart is Italy but home is England. In a way I can't lose. I think it's going to be a good match and will be something we remember for a long time, especially for the English fans.
"I can't decide, I think England might do it because they're playing at home."
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