Despite a laudable haul of four world cups, Italy have only won the European Championships once – back in 1968, when they played at home in a tournament comprised...
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Gigi Riva: The silence before the thunder
“Knocks from defenders are like caresses when compared to the beatings of mourning, loneliness and deprivation.” Those strong and poignant words were uttered by a man better known for...
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Italy and Euro 2004: A conspiracy or Scandinavian pragmatism?
On a June evening in Porto in 2004, a Scandinavian derby took place in a decisive game of the Euro 2004 group stage. Sweden trailed 2-1 going into the...
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The Battle of Santiago: Chile vs. Italy 1962
In questionable taste, metaphors of war are frequently wheeled out to describe football matches. Spells of territorial dominance are termed as ‘sieges’ complete with ‘aerial bombardments’; midfield ‘generals’ command...
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Novese: The Ruin of an Old Champion
From a distance all you can see is the floodlights, illuminating a dark Milanese night sky. The closer you get, the more you can sense the electricity in the...
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FC Vado: The first Coppa Italia winners
In the Savona province of Northern Italy, you will find Vado Ligure, a commercial town known for its port, electric power plant – whose twin towers dominate the skyline...
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Italians in Spain (Part 4) – Age is just a number: Amedeo Carboni
Of the many Italian players to have graced the stadiums of Spain, few have made such an impact as Amedeo Carboni. In fact, no Italian has made more La...
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Face-to-face with the beast: calcio & racism
Italian football’s lingering racism problem is no secret. Those that follow Serie A are accustomed to reading a new batch of charges levelled against clubs or sections of...
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Remembering Superga
At 16:45 on 4 May 1949, Pierluigi Meroni picked up his transmitter and made contact with the Turin air field. ‘We are over Savona,’ his message read when it...
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Gennaro Gattuso’s Pisan romance
Gennaro Gattuso was appointed as head coach of Pisa in late August 2015, at what was considered to be a crossroads for both club and manager. As his first...
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