ROME. July 6: Italians danced In the streets and Jumped Into fountains on Tuesday to celebrate their soccer team s thrilling comeback victory over Nigeria which kept their World Cup hopes alive, reports Reuter.

Fireworks went off from the Alps to Sicily as soccer-mad Italians poured onto the streets and motorcades of flag-draped cars honked horns and brought traffic to a halt in many cities.

The whole country held Its breath for 120 minutes." said the television presenter who read the late evening news with the 2-1 victory in the United States.

During the match, the streets were silent as the spectre of a depressing defeat at the hands of the Africans hung aver the country. until almost the last minute.

But after the final whistle supporters cracked open bottles of wine at fan clubs throughout the country as Italy were, given another chance of repeating their triumph in the 1982 World Cup In Spain.