Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 18:33, 30 October 2006

Italy

Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	Azzurri
Association	Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio
Head coach	Roberto Donadoni (2006-)
Captain	Fabio Cannavaro
Most caps	Paolo Maldini (126)
Top scorer	Gigi Riva (35)
FIFA code	ITA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	2
Highest	1 (November 1993)
Lowest	16 (April 1998)
First international
Template:Country data Italy old Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May, 1910)
Biggest win
Italy 9 - 0 USA Template:Country data United States 48 (Brentford, England; 2 August, 1948)
Biggest defeat
Template:Country data Hungary old Hungary 7 - 1 Italy Template:Country data Italy old (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April, 1924)
World Cup
Appearances	16 (first in 1934)
Best result	Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
European Championship
Appearances	6 (first in 1968)
Best result	Winners, 1968

Olympic medal record
Men's Football
	1936 Berlin	Team
	1928 Amsterdam	Team
	2004 Athens	Team

The Italian national football team is the national association football team of Italy and is governed by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio ("Italian Football Federation"). They are the current World Champions, having won the most recent FIFA World Cup.

Italy is among the top teams in international football and the second most successful national team in World Cup play, having won four World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil. To this tally they can add one European championship (1968), and one Olympic Gold Medal (1936).

The traditional colour of the national team (as well as of all Italian teams and athletes but in motor sports) is light blue (azzurro, in Italian), and therefore national team members are nicknamed Azzurri.

History

Origins and first two World Cups (1910–1938)

The team's first match was held in Milan on 15 May 1910; Italy defeated France by a score of 6-2.

The first success in an official tournament came with the bronze medal in 1928 Summer Olympics, held in Amsterdam. After losing the semi-final against Uruguay, a victory for 11-3 against Egypt secured third place in the competition.

After declining to participate in the first World Cup (1930, in Uruguay), the Italian national team won two consecutive editions of the tournament in 1934 and 1938, under the lead of coach Vittorio Pozzo and thanks to the genius of Giuseppe Meazza, one of the best Italian players ever.

In the 1934 World Cup, the host Azzurri defeated Czechoslovakia 2–1 in Rome, with goals by Raimundo Orsi and Angelo Schiavio.

Italy won the Gold medal in the 1936 Summer Olympics, held in Berlin, thanks to a victory in the final match against Austria.

Italy's predominance on international football in the 1930s was confirmed by the victory in 1938 World Cup. The Italian team beat Hungary 4–2 in Paris, with two goals by Silvio Piola (the all-time top scorer in Italian football) and two by Gino Colaussi.

Post-World War II (1946–1966)

After World War II, the Italian national team did not perform at its pre-war levels.

The tragic loss in 1949 of the players of Torino F.C. (the winners of the previous four Serie A titles) in the Superga air disaster saw the loss of ten out of the eleven constituting the initial line-up for the national team. The following year, Italy did not advance further than the first round of the 1950 World Cup, partly due to the long and physically devastating boat trip to Brazil.

In the World Cup finals of 1954 and the 1962 that followed, Italy again failed to progress past the first round, and did not even qualify for the 1958 World Cup. During the early 1960s, although Italian football clubs like AC Milan and Internazionale ruled the international scene, the National team was unable to replicate these results. Italy did not take part in the first edition of the European Championship in 1960 (then known as the European Nations Cup), and was knocked out by the USSR in the round of 16 (second round) of the 1964 European Championship.

Their participation in the 1966 World Cup is always remembered for their 0–1 defeat at the hands of North Korea. Despite being the tournament favourites, the Azzurri, whose 1966 squad was rich with talent including Rivera and Bulgarelli, were eliminated in the first round by the semi-professional North Koreans and bitterly condemned upon their return home, while North Korean scorer Pak Do Ik was celebrated as the David who killed Goliath.

European champions and World Cup runners-up (1968–1976)

In 1968, the Azzurri won their first major competition since the 1938 World Cup, defeating Yugoslavia in Rome for the European Championship title. The match holds the distinction of being the only major football tournament final to go to a replay. After extra time it ended in a 1-1 draw, and in the days before penalty shootouts, the rules required the match to be re-played a few days later. Italy won the replay 2-0 (with goals from Riva and Anastasi) to lift the trophy.

Two years later, the defending European Champions reached the final of the 1970 World Cup, held in Mexico. First, Italy won its first round group scoring only one goal, after a series of dull, uninspired games against Sweden, Uruguay, and Israel. The quarter-finals saw a transformed Italy prevail 4-1 over host Mexico after trailing 0-1. Then, the semi-final between Italy and West Germany went into the legend as one of the greatest games ever. This match, won by 4-3 after extra time, is known as the Game of the Century, and a marker at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City still commemorates it. Italy took a 1-0 lead through Boninsegna on 8', then Germany pressed to equalize for the rest of the game, until the very end when sweeper Schnellinger, then with Italy's AC Milan club, scored in injury time. In extra time, Müller brought Germany the lead on 94' before Italian defender Burgnich leveled the score with a rare international goal. On 104', Riva made it 3-2, only for Müller to equalize six minutes later. The TV cameras were still replaying this goal when Rivera finely volleyed a cross by Boninsegna for the winning goal in the 111'. For the very first time, people gathered in the streets of Italy in the late night to cheer for the victory, and after many years this game still remains the most noted in Italian football history.

In the two games against Mexico and West Germany, coach Ferruccio Valcareggi had Rivera replace Mazzola in a programmed second half substitution, that was then called staffetta (meaning relay as in athletics). This tactic was not repeated in the final, where Italy was defeated by Brazil. During the first half, Boninsegna answered Pelé's 18' goal. In the second half, Brazil's firepower was simply too much for a tired Italian side, and the final 4-1 result consecrated Brazil as tri-campeão (three-time champion).

This generation of great Italian players, like Riva, Rivera, Mazzola and Facchetti, didn't keep up the same level during the next 1972 European Championship where they didn't qualify to the play-offs. In 1973 they obtained prestigious victories in friendly matches, beating Brazil and twice England. In particular, Italy stormed Wembley Stadium, winning 1-0 with a goal by Fabio Capello. Despite these encouraging premises, coach Valcareggi was to resign after the elimination of the Italian team in the first round of the 1974 World Cup. Italy was as well eliminated at an early stage in 1976 European Championship.

World Cup winners for the third time (1978–1982)

1978 FIFA World Cup, held in Argentina, saw a new generation of Italian players, the most famous being Paolo Rossi, coming to the international stage. Italy played very well in the first round, being the only team in the tournament to beat the latter World Champion and host team Argentina. Second round games against West Germany, Austria and Netherlands led Italy to the third place final, where it was defeated by Brazil 2-1. As in the match against the Netherlands, Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff was beaten by a long-distance shot and thus blamed as the main responsible of the defeat. Italy then organized the 1980 European Football Championship, the first edition to be held between eight teams instead of four, and with the host team automatically qualified for the finals. Italy was beaten by Czechoslovakia in the third place match after penalties.

After a clamorous scandal in the Serie A, where also few National Team players like Paolo Rossi were prosecuted and suspended for fixed games and illegal bets, the Azzurri arrived to the 1982 FIFA World Cup among general skepticism and discomfort. Italy qualified to the second round after a series of uninspiring matches against Poland, Peru and Cameroon. Being violently criticized, the Italian team decided a press black-out from then on, with only coach Enzo Bearzot and captain Dino Zoff appointed to speak with the press.

Italy strength was finally shown in the second round group, a true Group of Death with Brazil and Argentina. In the opener, Italy prevailed 2-1 over Diego Maradona's side after an ill-tempered, obscure battle in which Italy defenders and midfielders proved their mastery in the rougher side of the game. The winning goals were scored by Marco Tardelli and Antonio Cabrini. After Brazil defeated Argentina 3-1, Italy was obliged to win to pass to semifinals. Twice Italy went in the lead on Paolo Rossi goals, and twice Brazil came back. With the 2-2 scored by Paulo Roberto Falcão, Brazil would have been through on goal difference, but on 74' Rossi scored the winning goal sending Italy to the semifinals in one of the all-time great games of World Cup history. In the wake of its brilliant second round performance, Italy easily dispatched Poland in the first semi-final through two goals scored by Rossi.

In the final match, Italy met their traditional opponent West Germany, who were coming from a penalty shoot-out against France. The first half ended without goals, after Cabrini missed a penalty for Italy. In the second half Paolo Rossi again scored the first goal, and while the Germans were trying to balance the result, Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli scored 3-0, before Paul Breitner could score West Germany's consolation goal seven minutes from end.

Tardelli's howl after his goal in the final is still recorded as the symbol of 1982 World Cup victory. Paolo Rossi won the Golden Boot with six goals, and 40-year-old captain-goalkeeper Dino Zoff became the oldest-ever player to win the World Cup.

World Cup and European Championship runners-up (1984–2004)

For twenty-four years following the 1982 triumph, the Azzurri figured prominently on the world stage but did not win another tournament. Italy failed to qualify for the 1984 European Championship and were knocked out in the Round of 16 of the 1986 World Cup by France. 1988 saw them reach the semi-finals of the European Championship, where they were defeated 2-0 by USSR.

Italy hosted the World Cup for the second time in 1990. The Italian attack featured forwards Salvatore Schillaci and a young Roberto Baggio. Despite being favourites to win and not conceding a goal during five matches, Italy was knocked-out in the semi-final by Argentina, losing 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra time; Aldo Serena missed the final penalty kick (with Roberto Donadoni having earlier had his penalty saved). Italy went on to defeat England 2-1 in the third place match. Italy then failed to qualify for the 1992 European Championship.

In the 1994 World Cup, Italy started slowly but reached the final. They lost the opening match against Ireland 0-1, this being the only match Italy would lose (not counting games lost after shootout) over the span of three World Cup finals from 1990 to 1998, but advanced from Group E based on goals scored among the four teams tied on points. In the Round of 16, Italy was down 0-1 late against Nigeria, but Roberto Baggio equalized in the 89th minute and scored the go-ahead goal in extra time. Baggio scored another late goal against Spain in the quarter-final to seal a 2-1 win and two goals against Bulgaria in the semi-final for another 2-1 win. In the final, Italy and Brazil played 120 minute of scoreless football, taking the match to penalty shootout. Italy lost the subsequent shootout 3-2 after Baggio missed the final penalty kick of the match, shooting over the crossbar.

Italy didn't progress beyond the group stage during the finals of Euro 96. Again, Gianfranco Zola failed to convert a decisive penalty against Germany, who eventually won the tournament. Then, during the qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the Azzurri beat England in Wembley for the second time, 1-0 with a goal by Zola. In the final tournament, Italy found themselves in another critical shootout, for the third World Cup in a row. The Italian side, where Del Piero and Baggio renewed the controversial staffetta (relay) between Mazzola and Rivera from 1970, held to a 0-0 draw the eventual World Champions and host team France after extra time in the quarter-finals, but lost 4-3 in the shootout. With two goals scored in this tournament, Roberto Baggio is still the only Italian player who scored in three different FIFA World Cup editions.

In Euro 2000, another shootout was this time to favour Italy, in the semi-final against co-host nation, Netherlands. Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo saved one penalty during the match and two during the shootout, while the Dutch players missed one other penalty during the match and one during the shootout with a rate of one penalty scored out of six attempts. Emerging football star Francesco Totti scored his penalty with a cucchiaio (spoon) chip. Italy finished the tournament as runners-up, losing the final 2–1 against France (to a golden goal in extra time), after conceding les Bleus' equalizing goal just 30 seconds before the end of injury time (94'). After the defeat, coach Dino Zoff resigned after being clamorously criticized by A.C. Milan president and politician Silvio Berlusconi.

In the 2002 World Cup co-host country South Korea knocked out Italy in the Round of 16, reviving the 1966 nightmare. The match was marked by controversy, as referee Byron Moreno gave Francesco Totti a second yellow card in extra time for an alleged dive, and disallowed an Italian goal. Replays seemed to indicate both that the card was unfounded and the goal was good, but the decisions stood and South Korea won 2-1, again with a golden goal in extra time..

A three-way tie in the group stage of the 2004 European Championship left Italy as the "odd man out", and they failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, finishing behind Denmark and Sweden on the basis of number of goals scored in matches among the tied teams. The winning goal scored during stoppage time against Bulgaria by Cassano resulted useless, leaving the Italian striker in tears at the end of the game.

2006 World Cup: Champions for the fourth time

Italy's campaign in the 2006 World Cup, held in Germany, was followed by open pessimism, caused by the controversies following clamorous 2006 Serie A scandal. But these predictions were then going to be refuted, since Azzurri eventually won their fourth World Cup.

Italy won their opening game against Ghana 2-0, with goals coming from Andrea Pirlo (40') and Vincenzo Iaquinta (83'). The team performance was judged the best among the opening games by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The second match was a much less convincing 1-1 draw with USA, with the opening goal by Alberto Gilardino equalized by a Cristian Zaccardo own goal. After the equalizing goal, Daniele De Rossi and two American players were sent off, leaving only nineteen men on the field for nearly the entire the second half, but the score remained the same. De Rossi was suspended for four matches for elbowing American player Brian McBride and could only return for the eventual final match.

Italy finished on top of Group E with a neat 2-0 win against the Czech Republic, with goals from Marco Materazzi (26') and Filippo Inzaghi (87'), advancing to the Round of 16 in the knockout stages, where Australia was beaten 1-0. In this match, Materazzi was controversially sent off early in the second half, but in the end the Azzurri won with a controversial penalty kick, won by Fabio Grosso and converted in the 95th minute by Totti.

The quarter-final match was a 3-0 victory against Ukraine, with Gianluca Zambrotta opening the scoring (6') and Luca Toni scoring twice (59' and 69'). Manager Marcello Lippi dedicated the victory to former Italian international Gianluca Pessotto, who was recovering from an alleged suicide attempt.

In the semi-final, Italy beat hosts Germany 2-0, with the two goals coming in the last two minutes of extra-time. Fabio Grosso scored the first goal in the 119th minute, after a disguised Pirlo pass found him open in the penalty area, and Del Piero sealed the victory, completing a counter-attack with a chip moments later.

The Azzurri won their fourth World Cup, defeating France in Berlin, on July 9, 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time. French captain Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a tricky penalty spot kick, controversially awarded for a foul by Materazzi. Twelve minutes later, a header by Materazzi, from a perfectly placed corner by Pirlo, scored the equalizer. A short time after, a header goal by Toni was nullified for an offside. At 110', Zidane was sent off after a head butt, provoked by a insult directed at him by Materazzi. Italy then won the penalty shoot-out 5-3, after David Trezeguet's attempt hit the crossbar and Italy going perfect on all five attempts, Grosso converting the final penalty past French keeper Barthez.

It's generally recognised that Italy victory was obtained thanks to excellent teamwork, traditional Italian team compactness and outstanding defense play. Ten different players scored for Italy and five goals out of twelve were scored by substitutes, while four goals were scored by defenders. Seven players - Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso, Totti and Toni - were named to the 23-man tournament All Star Team. Buffon also won the Lev Yashin Award, given to the best goalkeeper of the tournament; he conceded only two goals in the tournament, the first an own goal by Zaccardo and the second from Zidane's penalty, and remained unbeaten for 460 consecutive minutes.

After the World Cup

Days after the Italian triumph in the World Cup, Lippi, who had earlier been criticized for his connections to Luciano Moggi, the main figure in the 2006 Serie A scandal, announced his resignation. 1994 World Cup star Roberto Donadoni was announced the new coach of the Azzurri on July 13. He led a team composed by players not belonging to the World Cup roster to a draw against Croatia as the World Cup players still recovering their match fitness.

Italy is currently playing in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group B, along with France.

World Cup record

Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

European Championship record

• 1960 — Did not enter
• 1964 — Did not qualify
• 1968 — Champions
• 1972 — Did not qualify
• 1976 — Did not qualify
• 1980 — Fourth place
• 1984 — Did not qualify
• 1988 — Semifinals
• 1992 — Did not qualify
• 1996 — Round 1
• 2000 — Runners-up
• 2004 — Round 1
• 2008 — (Qualifying Round in progress)

Honours

This is a list of honours for all of the senior Italian national teams, including Olympic and Military teams

• Template:Sport honours

• Template:Sport honours

• Template:Sport honours

• Template:Sport honours

• Template:Sport honours

Coaches

During the earliest days of Italian nation football, it was common for a Technical Commission to be appointed. The Commission took the role that a standard coach would currently play. Since 1967, the national team has been controlled only by coaches.

For this reason, the coach of the Italian national team is still called Technical Commissioner (Commissario tecnico o CT).

• Technical Commission (1910–1912)
• Vittorio Pozzo (1912)
• Technical Commission (1912–1924)
• Vittorio Pozzo (1924)
• Technical Commission (1924–1925)
• Augusto Rangone (1925–1928)
• Carlo Carcano (1928–1929)
• Vittorio Pozzo (1929–1948) — World Champions 1934, World Champions 1938
• Ferruccio Novo (1949–1950) — as Technical Commission Chairman
• Technical Commission (1951)
• Carlino Beretta (1952–1953)
• Technical Commission (1953–1959)
• Giuseppe Viani (1960)
• Giovanni Ferrari (1960–1961)
• Technical Commission (1962)
• Edmondo Fabbri (1962–1966)
• Technical Commission (1966–1967)
• Ferruccio Valcareggi (1967–1974) — European Champions 1968, Runners-Up World Cup 1970
• Fulvio Bernardini (1974–1975)
• Enzo Bearzot (1975–1986) — World Champions 1982
• Azeglio Vicini (1986–1991) — 3rd Place World Cup 1990
• Arrigo Sacchi (1991–1996) — Runners-Up World Cup 1994
• Cesare Maldini (1997–1998)
• Dino Zoff (1998–2000) — Runners-Up European Championships 2000
• Giovanni Trapattoni (2000–2004)
• Marcello Lippi (2004–2006) — World Champions 2006
• Roberto Donadoni (2006-current)

Player history

Notable past players

Players are ordered by year of debut with national football team

Most capped players

As of October 11, 2006, the players with the most caps for Italy are:

Top goalscorers

As of October 11, 2006, the players with the most goals for Italy are:

Current squad

The following players named for Euro 2008 qualifying match against Ukraine and Georgia on 7 October and 11 October2006.

Caps and goals as of 11 October2006, included against Georgia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Gianluigi Buffon	28 January 1978	71	0	Juventus
2	2DF	Cristian Zaccardo	21 December 1981	15	1	Palermo
3	2DF	Manuel Pasqual	13 March 1982	1	0	Fiorentina
4	3MF	Gennaro Del Vecchio	25 March 1978	1	0	Sampdoria
5	2DF	Fabio Cannavaro	13 September 1973	104	1	Real Madrid
6	2DF	Andrea Barzagli	8 May 1981	12	0	Palermo
7	4FW	Alessandro Del Piero	9 November 1974	80	27	Juventus
8	3MF	Gennaro Gattuso	9 January 1978	50	1	Milan
9	4FW	Luca Toni	26 May 1977	26	10	Fiorentina
10	3MF	Daniele De Rossi	24 July 1983	24	4	Roma
11	4FW	Antonio Di Natale	13 October 1977	7	1	Udinese
12	1GK	Christian Abbiati	8 July 1977	4	0	Torino
13	2DF	Alessandro Nesta	19 March 1976	78	0	Milan
14	1GK	Marco Amelia	2 April 1982	2	0	Livorno
15	4FW	Vincenzo Iaquinta	21 November 1979	19	1	Udinese
16	3MF	Mauro Camoranesi	4 October 1976	28	2	Juventus
17	4FW	David Di Michele	6 January 1976	6	0	Palermo
18	4FW	Filippo Inzaghi	9 August 1973	53	23	Milan
19	2DF	Gianluca Zambrotta	19 February 1977	61	2	Barcelona
20	3MF	Simone Perrotta	17 September 1977	34	2	Roma
21	3MF	Andrea Pirlo	19 May 1979	35	5	Milan
22	2DF	Massimo Oddo	14 June 1976	24	1	Lazio
23	2DF	Marco Materazzi	19 August 1973	34	2	Internazionale
24	3MF	Stefano Mauri	8 January 1980	3	0	Lazio

Recent call-up

The following players have all recently been called up to the Italy squad. Bracket shows last call-up time.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Angelo Peruzzi (retired from international football) (2006 FIFA World Cup)	16 February 1970	31	0	Lazio
	1GK	Flavio Roma (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	21 June 1974	3	0	Monaco
	2DF	Fabio Grosso (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	28 November 1977	25	2	Internazionale
	2DF	Dario Dainelli (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	9 June 1979	1	0	Fiorentina
	2DF	Daniele Bonera (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	31 May 1981	11	0	Milan
	2DF	Giorgio Chiellini (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	14 August 1984	6	0	Juventus
	2DF	Luciano Zauri (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	20 January 1978	5	0	Lazio
	2DF	Cristian Zenoni (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	23 April 1977	2	0	Sampdoria
	2DF	Giulio Falcone (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	31 May 1974	1	0	Sampdoria
	2DF	Christian Terlizzi (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	22 November 1979	1	0	Sampdoria
	2DF	Alessandro Gamberini (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	27 August 1981	0	0	Fiorentina
	3MF	Massimo Ambrosini (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	29 May 1977	23	0	Milan
	3MF	Marco Marchionni (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	22 July 1980	3	0	Juventus
	3MF	Franco Semioli (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	20 June 1980	2	0	Chievo
	3MF	Angelo Palombo (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	25 September 1981	1	0	Sampdoria
	3MF	Fabio Liverani (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	29 April 1976	3	0	Fiorentina
	3MF	Massimo Gobbi (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	31 January 1980	1	0	Fiorentina
	3MF	Stefano Morrone (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	26 October 1978	0	0	Livorno
	3MF	Francesco Totti ()	27 September 1976	58	9	Roma
	3MF	Simone Barone ()	30 April 1978	15	1	Torino
	4FW	Alberto Gilardino (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	5 July 1982	22	9	Milan
	4FW	Antonio Cassano (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	12 July 1982	10	3	Real Madrid
	4FW	Tommaso Rocchi (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	19 September 1977	1	0	Lazio
	4FW	Emiliano Bonazzoli (Euro 2008 qual. v. France, 6 September)	20 January 1979	0	0	Sampdoria
	4FW	Mauro Esposito (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	13 June 1979	6	0	Cagliari
	4FW	Cristiano Lucarelli (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	4 October 1975	3	1	Livorno
	4FW	Andrea Caracciolo (friendly v. Croatia, 16 August)	18 September 1981	2	0	Palermo

2006 World Cup squad

See 2006 FIFA World Cup squads - Italy

Trivia

List of teams whose balance with Italy is positive, taking into account only competitive games. Data are Italian victories-draws-defeats:

• Brazil 2-2-3
• Croatia 0-1-2
• France 3-4-4
• Netherlands 1-2-2
• North Korea 0-0-1
• USSR 0-5-3
• Uruguay 1-1-2

See also

• Italian under-21 national team
• Battle of Highbury
• Battle of Santiago
• Game of the Century

Notes

1. Light blue was the color of the royal house of the Kingdom of Italy. In its first two matches, the Italian national team wore white shirts with shorts from the club of each player; the azure shirts were introduced in the third match.
2. . Some turmoil kept the players of Pro Vercelli, the best team of the league, out of the game. At the end of the match, the players received as a prize some cigarette packets thrown by the 4,000 spectators. The Italian team (2-3-5): De Simoni; Varisco, Calì; Trerè, Fossati, Capello; Debernardi, Rizzi, Cevenini I, Lana, Boiocchi.
3. "Match Report - 1994 FIFA World Cup USA (TM): Nigeria - Italy". FIFAworldcup.com. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
4. "Match Report - 1994 FIFA World Cup USA (TM): Italy - Spain". FIFAworldcup.com. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
5. "Match Report - 1994 FIFA World Cup USA (TM): Bulgaria - Italy". FIFAworldcup.com. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
6. "USA 1994". FIFAworldcup.com. Retrieved 2006-07-25.
7. See 2002 FIFA World Cup (match reports). Subsequent comments by Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni and some other public figures in Italy , coupled with more controversial refereeing decisions in South Korea's subsequent Quarter-final against Spain led to a conspiracy theory that South Korea were being unfairly favoured by officials. These reports were quickly dismissed by FIFA . Referee Byron Moreno was suspended and removed by his federation a few years later, due to similar unfair decisions in other local matches.
8. There was some controversy as both Sweden and Denmark knew before their final match that a 2-2 draw between them would qualify both Scandinavian sides, leaving the Italians out, and that is exactly what transpired. Totti again found himself at the center of controversy for the Italian side after being suspended for three games for a spitting incident in the match against Denmark.
9. "Lippi dedicates win to Pessotto". BBC. 2006-06-30. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. "Azzurri prominent in All Star Team". FIFAworldcup.com. 2006-07-07. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. "Buffon collects Lev Yashin Award". FIFAworldcup.com. 2006-07-10. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. Buckley, Kevin (2006-05-21). "Lippi the latest to be sucked into crisis". Guardian. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
13. "Lippi resigns as Italy head coach". BBC. 2006-07-12. Retrieved 2006-07-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
14. Competitive games considered are those belonging to: Olympic Games 1912 - 1952, Coppa Internazionale 1927 - 1960, World Cup 1934 - 2006, European Nations Cup 1962 - 2004, U.S.A. Tournament 1976, Copa de Oro 1981, Torneo "Scania 100" 1991, U.S. Cup 1992 and France Tournament 1997.

External links

• Italian Football Federation (Official news about the national team)
• Italy World Cup News
• RSSSF archive of international results 1910—
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
• RSSSF archive of coaches 1910—
• Planet World Cup archive of results in the World Cup
• Planet World Cup archive of squads in the World Cup
• Planet World Cup archive of results in the World Cup qualifiers
• Profile of the Italian national team on footballdatabase.com
• Forza Azzurri — A comprehensive Statistics archive

Template:Link FA Template:Fb start

v t e International association football
FIFA Federations Teams Competitions World Rankings The Best FIFA Football Awards Timeline
World (FIFA)	FIFA World Cup U-20 U-17 FIFA Confederations Cup FIFA Gold Cup Olympic Games Youth Olympic Games
Asia (AFC)	AFC Asian Cup U-23 U-20 U-17 AFC Challenge Cup AFC Solidarity Cup Asian Games Regional ASEAN CAFA EAFF SAFF WAFF Arabian Gulf Cup East Asian Games Far Eastern Games South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games West Asian Games
Africa (CAF)	CAF Africa Cup of Nations U-23 U-20 U-17 CAF African Nations Championship African Games Regional CECAFA COSAFA UNIFFAC WAFU Central African Games Indian Ocean Island Games
North America (CONCACAF)	CONCACAF Gold Cup U-23 U-20 U-17 U-15 CONCACAF Championship CONCACAF Nations League CONCACAF Cup NAFC Championship CCCF Championship Central America and Caribbean Games Regional North American Nations Cup Copa Centroamericana CFU Championship Caribbean Cup LIFA Cup WIFA Cup Central America Games
South America (CONMEBOL)	CONMEBOL Copa América U-23 U-20 U-17 U-15 South American Games Regional Bolivarian Games
Oceania (OFC)	OFC Nations Cup U-23 U-19 U-17 Regional Melanesia Cup Polynesia Cup Pacific Games Pacific Mini Games
Europe (UEFA)	UEFA European Championship U-21 U-19 U-17 UEFA Nations League Regional Central European Cup Balkan Cup Baltic Cup British Home Championship Nordic Championship
Inter-Continental	CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions CPF Panamerican Championship CAF-AFC Afro-Asian Cup of Nations AFC–OFC Challenge Cup FIFA Arab Cup Palestine Cup Kuneitra Cup Overseas Cup Afro-Asian Games Arab Games Francophone Games GANEFO Goodwill Games Islamic Games Islamic Solidarity Games Lusofonia Games Mediterranean Cup Mediterranean Games Pan American Games
Non-FIFA	CONIFA World Football Cup CONIFA European Football Cup CONIFA South America Football Cup CONIFA Africa Football Cup FIFI Wild Cup UIAFA Great European Tournament Island Games Micronesian Games Universiade World Unity Football Alliance
See also Geography Codes Player/Club of the Century Women's football

v t e Football in Italy
Italian Football Federation
National teams	Senior B team C team Olympic team Under-23 Under-21 Under-21 B Under-20 Under-19 Under-18 Under-17 Under-16 Under-15 Women's senior
Leagues	Lega Serie A Lega Serie B Lega Pro Lega Nazionale Dilettanti Lega Calcio defunct Lega Alta Italia defunct Direttorio Divisioni Superiori defunct Direttorio Divisioni Inferiori Nord defunct Lega Nord defunct
League competitions (Categoria Leagues)	Serie A Prima Divisione defunct Divisione Nazionale defunct Serie B Seconda Divisione defunct Serie C Serie C1 defunct Serie C2 defunct Serie D Eccellenza Promozione Prima Categoria Seconda Categoria Terza Categoria
Cup competitions	Coppa Italia Supercoppa Italiana Coppa Italia Serie C Supercoppa di Serie C Supercoppa di Lega di Serie C2 defunct Coppa Italia Serie D Coppa Italia Dilettanti
Youth competitions	Leagues Campionato Primavera 1 Campionato Primavera 2 Campionato Primavera 3 Campionato Juniores Nazionali Coppa Italia Primavera Supercoppa Primavera Torneo di Viareggio
Women's competitions	Serie A Serie B Serie C Coppa Italia Supercoppa Italiana
Awards	Gran Galà del Calcio AIC Serie A Awards Italian Football Hall of Fame
Lists	List of clubs List of clubs by honours won Clubs in international competitions
Miscellaneous	Totonero 1980 Totonero 1986 Italian Law 91/1981, Article 18B financial doping scandals Anglo-Italian Cup Caso Genoa Calciopoli 2011–12 Italian football match-fixing scandal 2015 Italian football match-fixing scandal Article 52 of N.O.I.F. Scudetto Capocannoniere Italian Football Confederation Scudetto of the Pistols
Venues Records Competitions Trophies and awards Rivalries

Template:Fb end

• Italy national football team
• European national football teams
• FIFA World Cup-winning countries
• UEFA European Football Championship-winning countries
• National sports teams of Italy