Italy, The Tragedies

USA 94

USA 94 and Italy’s USA 94 team will forever hold a special place in my heart. USA 94 was the first World Cup I watched and there were some memorable games and players from this tournament. Italy’s progress just fell short of being a feel-good Hollywood film. It was sweet until we met a tragic end. This was also a tournament where my all-time favourite player, Roberto Baggio was at the peak of his powers.

Italy made it out of the group stage by the skin of the teeth as one of the best third-placed qualifiers. Baggio entered the tournament as the best player in the world but was below-par. He chose the right time to rise as all special players do, scoring the equaliser two minutes before the end in the Second Round match against Nigeria. Italy clicked into gear after that with Baggio back at his best, playing the heroic role. He scored the late winner against Spain in the quarter-final and two great goals in Italy’s best performance of the tournament in the semi-final against Bulgaria. He played the final with a heavily strapped leg from a hamstring injury in the semi-final. It was a miracle that he lasted 120 minutes in the final. There were no sweet rewards for that perseverance as he tragically and uncharacteristically missed a penalty spot-kick to hand Brazil the world title.

Euro 2000

Euro 2000 taught me to never underestimate Italy when they enter the tournament as underdogs. Especially not with the quality they had in that tournament. The first choice goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon and star striker, Christian Vieri missed the tournament through injuries. With a pragmatic approach, Italy coasted through to the semi-final against one of the co-hosts and favourites, Holland.

A 0-0 draw is rarely seen as a classic but this was one from our blue-tinted glasses. Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off in the first half for collecting two yellow cards, Holland missed two penalties, one saved by Francesco Toldo and another that hit the post. All this within 90 minutes of the game. With 10 men, Italy produced a typical defensively solid and resolute performance that dragged the game to a penalty shootout. After losing the last three penalty shootouts in 1990, 1994 and 1998, it was not a good idea to settle the game through a shootout. But finally, luck was on our side. Toldo carried on his heroics and saved twice. Francesco Totti scored with an impudent chip. Until that moment, I have never seen any player score a penalty like that.

In the final, we produced our best performance in the tournament. For all the good we did, we were left rueing a couple of missed chances by Alessandro Del Piero to wrap up the game. That came back to haunt us as a late French equaliser deflated us and tragically, our fate was sealed through the cruellest of ways, the Golden Goal in extra-time.

These two were my greatest tragedies as an Italy fan.