Elliott Davies
Italian international football
History
As far back as the 15th century, Italians played an early form of football. The game in its early form was known as giuco del calcio fiorentino, or Florentine kickball. In the 19th century, English, Scottish, and Swiss sailors introduced the game to the cities of Genoa, Milan and Turin. The name calcio stuck around, however, as the Italian language did not borrow a derivation of the English word football as most other languages did.
The Italian Football Association was founded in 1898. Around that time, clubs sprang up: FC Juventus was founded in 1897, AC Milan in 1899, SS Lazio in 1900, and FC Internazionale Milan in 1908, though the Italian league, Serie A, was not established until 1927.
Italian clubs have for decades been among the top clubs in the world. Throughout the history of European cup competitions, Italian sides have captured numerous titles and were among the first to bring in foreign talent from South America and other parts of Europe.
The Italian national team found quick success on the international stage. Italy captured the Olympic Gold medal in 1936 between winning the 1934 and 1938 FIFA World Cup™ finals, making quick work of their rivals and becoming the first team to successfully defend their FIFA World Cup title, something matched only by the great Brazilian teams of 1958 and 1962.
After World War II, however, Italian football reached a low point. The entire first team of champions Torino, including national team captain Valentino Mazzola, were killed in a plane crash in 1949. Italy did not qualify for the 1958 finals, and at the 1966 FIFA World Cup England, Italy’s loss to North Korea is perhaps the biggest upset in the history of the tournament.
Two years later, the Azzurri turned around their fortunes and ushered in a new era in Italian football, capturing the UEFA European Championships in 1968. In 1970, Italy advanced to the FIFA World Cup final before losing to Brazil, 4-1, but they went one better in 1982 when reaching the pinnacle of world football for the third time behind star Paolo Rossi, defeating West Germany, 3-1, in the final.
Italy finished third on their home soil in 1990, and Roberto Baggio led them to the final again four years later, where the Azzurri lost to Brazil on penalties.
