TORONTO -- An inferno of red and yellow flags and jerseys has erupted in downtown Toronto as Spanish soccer fans celebrate the country's shutout win over Italy in the European Championship.
In the heart of Little Italy a few blocks west of the Spanish celebration, the mood was sombre, with some blue-clad Italian supporters filing out early from filled-to-capacity patios before Spain iced the game with a fourth and final goal.
One Italy fan carefully folded up the country's red, white and green flag he had been holding, as cars loaded with passengers yelling chants of "Espanola" began to inch through the neighbourhood's bustling main strip.
A crowd of Spanish fans filled almost a whole city block and rang in their win with shouts and cheers.
They were joined by a handful of Italy fans, who joined in the celebration.
The Toronto area is home to more than 322,000 Italian-Canadians and more than 23,000 people of Spanish descent.
