BY COLM BRADLEY

The World Cup 2006 - Argentina promised, Germany battled, but ultimately it was Italy who delivered.

This festival of football, an event that transcends borders and captivates nations like no other. It can provide us with moments of sheer majesty and, also with moments of sheer madness. It can throw us from one extreme to the other with a flick of a foot or a nod of a head.

And we all have our own favourite memory of the World Cup. For me it is Ray Houghton's goal for the Republic of Ireland's against Italy at USA in 94. For you, it may be Gerry Armstrong's famous winner for Northern Ireland against hosts, Spain in 1982 or even Diego Maradonna's infamous 'Hand of God' that enters your head when the World Cup is mentioned.

For one man, who has made Enniskillen his home, Sunday night added to his already extensive World Cup memory bank. Silvano Lucchesi, an octogenarian, originally from the beautiful city of Lucca in Italy, watched his home nation capture the World Cup for the fourth time when they squeezed past France on penalties in Sunday night's final.

Silvano is a famous face in Enniskillen. He and his wife, Luisa ran the popular 'Golden Arrow' restaurant in the town centre.

Even though Silvano has been living in Enniskillen since 1952, his distinctive Italian accent leaves no doubt as to nation of his birth.

"I came here to help my father run the restaurant and Enniskillen and Fermanagh became my second home," he explained.

Silvano, who was born in 1925, so he has World Cup memories right back to the 30's;

"I remember Italy winning the trophy twice in the 30's, but I was a very young boy at the time."

But, it is Italy's victory in 1982 that provokes the most vivid memories for Silvano:

"I remember when Italy last won the trophy, in 1982, I was at home in Italy visiting my mother at the time. There was great rejoicing all over," Silvano told me before explaining how a local factory celebrated the victory;

"They made paper and card and transported it all over the world, but when Italy won the World Cup in '82, they stretched rolls of blue paper from one town to the next. This roll of paper stretched two miles from town to town."

Silvano watched Sunday's game with family members and was delighted when Italy secured the win.

"Both teams played well and I suppose we were lucky to win it on penalties, but it was great to see Italy do it."

Silvano's wife, Luisa, despite her Scottish accent, also comes from an Italian family so, when the pair settled in Enniskillen, their children, Karlo, Liana and Vania, may have been Fermanagh born but they were Italian bred.

Silvano and Luisa have been blessed with five grandchildren, Mario, Rico, Karlo, Kiera and Fabio. By a strange twist of fate, Rico (14) has been in France for most of the World Cup, but there was no doubt as to where his loyalties lay as he cheered the blue of Italy to the final.

Fabio, who is only 19 months and is pictured with his proud grandparents, was named by his two brothers, Rico and Mario.

Two football 'nuts' themselves, they named their baby brother after Italian centre defender, Fabio Cannavaro.

In Sunday's final, Cannavaro won his 100th cap and lifted the World Cup for Italy. Surrounded by family and friends, Silvano watched him become the fourth Italian to do so.

Fabio Ledwith, Cannavaro's namesake, may not realise what happened on Sunday night, but in years to come he will come to realise it was a very special day for his family and, in particular his Italian grandparents.

The World Cup is many things to many people.

For Silvano, it gave him a chance to cheer on his home nation. For his children and grandchildren, it allowed them to express their Italian roots.

Roll on South Africa 2010!