Italy national football team

About Italy national football team

What is Italy national football team?

The Italian national men’s football team officially represents Italy in international competitions. One of the most successful football teams in the world, the Italians have won four World Cups and one UEFA European Championship. The team has also won the Olympic football tournament in 1936. Currently ranked 7th in the World FIFA rankings, the team is managed by Roberto Mancini and captained by Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini. The team falls under the global jurisdiction of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Union of European Football Association (UEFA) in Europe. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC), also known as Federcalcio, is the governing football body in Italy. The team, also known as Azzurri, which translates to the blues, dons the savoy blue colour.

History of Italy's national football team

The team’s first official match was played against France in Milan on 15th May, 1910. Italy won the match 6-2 with the first official goal scored by Pietro Lana. The Azzurris played with a system of 2-3-5 and had players such as De Simoni, Varisco, Calì, Trerè, Debernardi, Fossati, Capello, Rizzi, Boiocchi, Cevenini I, Lana. The first official captain of the Italian team was Francesco Calì. In few years since the formation of the team, the team tasted success at a major international tournament with a bronze medal in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Later in the 1936 Olympics, the team won a gold medal.

Formation of the Italian football federation

The governing body of Italian football is based in Rome and its technical department is in Coverciano, Florence. It is responsible for men’s, women’s football teams and youth teams. The federation was established on March 26, 1898 in Turin. Mario Vicary was the first official president.

Italy at the FIFA World Cup

Italy is one of the most successful teams in arguably the biggest sporting event in the world. The team has played in 18 out of the 21 tournaments, and reached the finals 6 times. The team also finished third and fourth once each. The team has won 4 world titles in 1934, 1938, 1982, and the last in 2006. Brazil is the most successful team with 5 titles and Germany is tied with Italy with 4 titles.

Italy declined to participate in the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. It then went on to win the next two titles, becoming the first team ever to do so. In the 1950 World Cup, the team failed to progress past the group stage as the team was weakened because of an air crash that killed 10 of the 11 players from the initial line-up. In the 1954 World Cup, the team again failed to go past the group stage. In 1958, the team failed to qualify for the World Cup altogether. In 1962 and 1966, again, the team failed to progress from the group stage. In the 1970 World Cup, the team was able to reach the final where it lost to Brazil. They reached the final after defeating West Germany in the semi-final which is considered as the “Game of the Century”, one of the greatest games in the history of the sport. It was in 1980, after a gap of several decades, the Azzurris were able to win its third World Cup title. The Italians defeated the West German team to claim its third title. That was its last World Cup title before 2006 when the team surprised the home team Germany to win its fourth world title. The team saw a decline after 2006 and, in 2018, the team failed to qualify for the mega event for the first time since 1958.

Italy at the UEFA European Championship

A team that has won 4 world titles has been able to win the European Championship just once in 1968. It finished runners twice in 2000 and in 2012. The Italians have participated in 9 European Championships to date. The team has qualified for the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup and is one of favourites to win the tournament under manager Roberto Mancini. The team has not lost a match since a defeat against Portugal in September 2018.

Latest Updates on Italy national football team

European Championship winners, runner-ups list, 2024 champion's prize money

Euro Cup 2024 Prize Money: The runners-up will get a reward of €5 million and the winner will be given €8 million. Check Euro Cup 2024 winners and runner-ups list here

Updated On: 15 Jul 2024 | 2:26 AM IST

Euro 2024 pre-QF: Italy vs Switzerland highlights - defending champions out

The Italians made their task easier by making sloppy passes and poor decisions, giving up the ball cheaply in central places, and not applying enough pressure

Updated On: 30 Jun 2024 | 1:37 AM IST

Euro Cup 2024 Round of 16 full schedule, live match time, telecast details

Sony Sports Network will telecast the Euro Cup 2024 Round of 16 matches in India. It's live streaming will be available on the Sony LIV app and website

Updated On: 27 Jun 2024 | 6:47 PM IST

Euro Cup 2024 today match: ALB vs ESP live match time, CRO vs ITA streaming

The Albania vs Spain football match as well as the Croatia vs Italy football match will begin at 12:30 AM IST on June 25

Updated On: 24 Jun 2024 | 4:44 PM IST

Euro Cup 2024 points table Group A, B, C, D, E, F; most goals, cards stats

Check Euro Cup 2024 points table of Group A, B, C, D, E and F; most goals scored by a player in European Championships 2024 and players to miss last league game here

Updated On: 26 Jun 2024 | 11:13 AM IST

Euro Cup 2024: Spain vs Italy live match (IST), telecast, streaming

The Spain vs Italy football match will begin at 12:30 AM IST on June 21. Sony LIV will livestream the Spain vs Italy match in India.

Updated On: 20 Jun 2024 | 12:40 PM IST

Euro 2024: Group A, B, C, D, E and F points table, top stats of tournament

Germany is at the top of Group A, Spain is leading Group B, England leads Group C while the Netherlands have Group D under their control. Romania and Portugal stand atop Group E and F respectively

Updated On: 22 Jun 2024 | 11:48 PM IST

Euro 2024: UEFA charges Albania over 'provocative message' and fireworks

UEFA didn't say which message it objected to, only that the charge relates to transmitting a provocative message unfit for a sports event

Updated On: 17 Jun 2024 | 1:26 PM IST

Euro Cup 2024: Italy vs Albania live match to begin at 12:30 AM IST

On Saturday, June 15, three matches will take place in the Uefa Euro 2024 being played in Germany. Teams such as Hungary, Switzerland, Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania will be involved

Updated On: 15 Jun 2024 | 10:31 PM IST

Euro Cup 2024 full schedule, match timings (IST), format, live streaming

The European Championship 2024 begins on June 15 at 12:30 AM, according to Indian Standard Time. Find everything to know about Euro Cup 2024 here

Updated On: 13 Jun 2024 | 10:01 AM IST

Chiellini signs new Juventus contract, to stay with club until 2023

Euro 2020-winning Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini has signed a two-year contract extension at Juventus.

Updated On: 03 Aug 2021 | 7:50 AM IST

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Olympics 2021: Men's and Women's football full schedule, match timings

Hungary and Great Britain are the two most successful teams in the competition, having won the Olympic gold thrice each in men's football. Check full schedule, match timings and venue details here

Updated On: 21 Jul 2021 | 12:07 PM IST

Euro 2020 in review: The best, worst and downright strange

A review of the best, worst and downright strange at this year's European Championship

Updated On: 13 Jul 2021 | 8:44 PM IST

We don't want you: Kane slams fans directing racial abuse at England stars

England captain Harry Kane on Monday condemned the "vile" racial abuse, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka had to face on social media following the Three Lions' loss in the Euro Cup final

Updated On: 13 Jul 2021 | 8:42 PM IST

Euro 2020 created strong reputation despite many challenges

Delayed one year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 European Championship is in the history and financial books after being among the most difficult soccer tournaments ever organized

Updated On: 13 Jul 2021 | 8:34 PM IST

5 Italians, no Cristiano Ronaldo in Euro 2020 team of the tournament

Five players from European champion Italy and no Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbapp nor Robert Lewandowski were picked in UEFA's official team of the tournament announced on Tuesday.

Updated On: 13 Jul 2021 | 8:31 PM IST

Italy wins Euro 2020, beats England in penalty shootout

Italian soccer's redemption story is complete. England's painful half-century wait for a major title goes on.

Updated On: 12 Jul 2021 | 3:50 AM IST

Premium

England vs Italy: What to expect from Euro 2020 final? Check key stats here

Italy have scored 12, one less than Spain and 2 more than England in Uefa European Championship 2021. Check Italy vs England record in football ahead of Euro Cup 2021 final

Updated On: 11 Jul 2021 | 8:26 AM IST

Premium

Euro 2020 FINAL HIGHLIGHTS: England denied history; Italy win in penalties

Italy defeated England 3-2 in the penalty shootout denying the home team its first title after a gap of 55 years

Updated On: 12 Jul 2021 | 8:17 PM IST

Euro 2020 final: Where Italy and England can win or lose

It's being billed as the best team of the tournament against, in effect, the host nation.

Updated On: 10 Jul 2021 | 2:36 AM IST