All Matches of the Italian National Football Team in Milan: A Journey Through History

All Matches of the Italian National Football Team in Milan: A Journey Through History

The Italian national football team returns to play in Milan at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in San Siro and it is immediately a party for the city

Milan, capital of fashion and art, is also a city buzzing with passion for football. It is not only the two city teams, Milan and Inter, that make Milan the capital of Italian football in terms of titles won.

When talking about the Italian national football team’s matches in Milan, the image that springs to mind is that of the legendary San Siro stadium, today’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also known as the ‘Scala del Calcio’, because of the fantastic acoustics of the bowl that makes the spectators feel inside the playing field and at the same time allows the players on the pitch to hear everything that is being chanted by the fans in the stands.

The match has taken place on September 12th 2023 between Italy and Ukraine, kicking off at 20.45 and with live TV coverage on RAI networks. Italy won against Ukraine thanks to a superb performance from Frattesi, scoring two goals in the first half. Despite Yarmolenko’s goal, the Azzurri missed many goal opportunities and hit a crossbar with Locatelli. This was the first victory for coach Spalletti on the Italian bench. With a game to spare, Italy joins Bulgaria and Macedonia in second place in the group, but qualification for Euro 2024 is still to be won. Although the match showed good offensive production and good play, there was still the feeling of having created a lot and collected too little. In the second half, Italy was criticised for some distractions, but they managed to keep the lead until the end. At the tactical level, Spalletti made some changes to give the team fresh energy. Despite some difficulties in the end, Italy ended the match with a victory, bringing them closer to the European Championship.

In this article, let’s go over the history of the matches played by the Italian national team in Milan, from the distant 1910 to the present day.

Historical overview of all Italian national football team matches played in Milan

Here is the list of the 61 matches played by the Italian national football team in Milan (source: FIGC website):

The first thing that jumps out at you is that practically since 1927 the binomial San Siro and the Italian national football team have been inseparable, although the official name of the stadium has changed over the years. No other Italian city boasts such a symbiosis between the Azzurri’s national team and a single stadium.

The balance is of:

• 39 wins out of 61 matches played in Milan, with 143 goals scored and 57 goals conceded.
• 19 draws, 9 of which were nil-nets, 3 matches ended 1-1, 6 ended 2-2 and one ended 3-3.
• Only three defeats, including two against Hungary, one even before World War I, and one against Spain in the 2021 Nations League.

Five Unforgettable Matches of the Italian National Football Team in Milan

1. Italy vs. France, friendly 15 May 1910, ended 6-2

There is great historical closeness between Italy and France, dictated by geographical proximity and many historical vicissitudes, but when it comes to football, the rivalry between Italy and France is probably one of the most heated. Italians and French respect and fear each other, football-wise. In alternating phases, depending on history, there have been periods in which we have been absolutely superior and other phases, such as the current one, in which France certainly overpowers us technically and also in the world ranking.

So remembering the first Italy-France challenge at the Arena Civica in Milan is as if it were a must, for this challenge still inflames the blue hearts of all of us Italians. That first challenge ended with a dry 6-2 win for us, with goals from players who are today completely unknown, whose most famous player was certainly Aldo Cevenini (known as ‘il Cevenna’), a great Milan player (who also played for Inter at the end of his career).

Ten years later came the 9-4 in 1920, again in a ‘friendly match’ at the Sempione Velodrome, with players who have already entered more into the collective memory: Luigi Cevenini, Aldo’s brother, who scored two goals and others like Guglielmo Brezzi, who scored three goals.

2. Italy vs Austria 1-0, World Cup semi-final 3 June 1934

Italy’s 1-0 victory marked not only the history of Italian football but also that of world football. We are not going to go back over that World Cup, which was the first one won by the Italian national football team and what is more, at home, but Vittorio Pozzo’s national team is still today, almost one hundred years later, an example for all those who are about to emulate the exploits of this great coach on the national team bench. Even at that time, the rivalry with Austria, especially after the Victory after the First World War over the Habsburg Empire, was very heated, therefore also due to extra-football factors. The war had been over for 15 years and revanchism and also the fascist dictatorship staked a lot on the triumph of that World Cup played at home. That match marked the history of World Cup football, because the Austrian national team was considered the strongest at the time and it was no coincidence that it was called the ‘Wunderteam’ (wonder team). It counted among its ranks Matthias Sindelar, considered the best centre forward in the world at the time. Enrico Guaita, known as ‘il Corsaro Nero’ (the Black Corsair), a striker of Argentine origin, but naturalised Italian and a Roma player, scored, but the whole formation of that team has gone down in the annals, with Giuseppe Meazza, after whom the San Siro Stadium was later named, still bearing the name of the great Ambrosiana Inter striker.

3. Italy vs Brazil, Friendly match 3-0 (twice in 1956 and 1963)

Two more challenges, this time only friendly ones, but which deserve to be remembered, because in the annals, the victories with Brazil represent not only a great honour, for having beaten the most titled team in the History of World Football, but also for the great mutual esteem that exists between us and our Brazilian friends (both for historical reasons and for reasons of sympathy).

But we are talking about football here, and beating Brazil 3-0 is not an everyday occurrence. In Milan, again at the San Siro, it happened twice, even in two friendlies.

The first time was on 25 April 1956, with an Italian team that was captained by Giampiero Boniperti and only two years before the great Brazil won its first World Cup in Sweden in 1958. Virgili scored twice and there was also an own goal by a Brazilian defender, De Sordi.

The second 3-0 victory against Brazil is perhaps the most striking, because it was achieved on 12 May 1963 with the then world champion national team of Pelé, Didì, Vavà and the Santos brothers, in short one of the strongest football teams in the history of world football of all time. It was also a friendly, but what a friendly! Sandro Mazzola, the former Inter flag bearer, scored, but Sormani of Mantova also scored, but who later also played for Milan, and Bulgarelli of Bologna. Brazil’s formation was stratospheric. A football milestone!

4. Italy vs Netherlands, Friendly match 24 February 1979

It was February and it was cold and humid. In 1979 both Holland and Italy were among the strongest national teams in the world. The Netherlands of those years needs no introduction. It revolutionised world football with its total football and offside tactics, a tactic that unnerved the opponents who systematically never managed to finish an attacking action. The goalkeeper was considered a free, but in fact never had to intervene, because the offside tactic never failed. And in attack? The Netherlands of those years had an attack that has remained in the history of football: names that still shake the walls of houses just to pronounce them: Haan, Rep, Van Hanegem, Cruijff, Rensenbrink. If these names don’t ring a bell, do a little research on Google or Wikipedia, because it means you still have a lot to learn. Well, in 1979 Cruijff had already decided to leave the Dutch national football team for reasons of his own and perhaps also a little out of snobbery. But he had been replaced by Krol, as central director (although not in an advanced position like Cruijff) and there had been the inclusion of the Van de Kerkhof brothers, two blond assaults who ran the length and breadth of the pitch and crossed the diagonals, driving defences all over the world crazy.

Well, on that cold day, Rossi, Tardelli and Bettega scored, and the Dutch national football team, perhaps not too on the ball, and also a little demotivated by the fact that it was a friendly, took three goals from our Azzurri, who had to redeem the humiliating defeat at the 1978 World Cup, when in a decisive match that would have awarded the World Cup final, they lost on two shots from 45 metres that have also gone down in history. In Milan, Argentina’s mundial match was ‘avenged’. A meagre revenge. But so much was.

5. Italy vs England, Nations League 23 September 2022

Another rivalry, similar to the one between Italy and France. Here the Italians are divided on which rivalry is more heated between the two. More to the point, the rivalry with France is more about history and closeness between cousins, while that with England is also about the snootiness of the English, who still think they are the masters of football (sic!).

This, which is also the last match played so far in Milan, ended 1-0 to us, with Raspadori’s goal, almost at the end. Let’s say that beating England at football for us Italians has almost an enjoyment that is difficult to explain, but those who read us know what we are talking about. And forgive us English readers who read us in the English version of this article.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many matches has Milan hosted for the Italian national team?

Since 1910, Milan has hosted a total of 60 matches of the Italian national football team.

What was the most rounded result obtained by Italy in Milan?

The most rounded result was a 9-4 against France in 1920. But there are also two 6-1s, an Italy-Portugal in 1929 and an Italy-Belgium in 1938.

The matches of the Italian national football team in Milan are more than just sports matches: they are pages of history, moments of national unity and demonstrations of Italian football talent. San Siro, with its incomparable atmosphere, has been and continues to be the ideal stage for these unforgettable moments. It is no coincidence that it is called the Scala of Football and not only nationally, but also worldwide.

If you are a true football fan, you can’t miss the opportunity to experience this atmosphere: the Italian national team is coming back to play in Milan, and let’s hope that the Azzurri are able to prove their worth with their friends from the Ukrainian national team!

Where to sleep in Milan, AN Hotels is always at your side

AN Hotels is the hotel chain that has brought Italian style to the heart of the Milanese metropolis. Our aim is to offer our customers a unique stay experience of design, comfort and attention to detail, whether you are on a business trip or on holiday with your family.

Our hotels, the AN Hotel Dépendance Melegnano, the AN Hotel Melegnano and the AN Park Hotel ibis Styles Settala, have elegant, spacious and modern rooms with all the necessary comforts to meet every need. We are the ideal choice for football fans who come to watch the matches at the San Siro and do not want to return home at night, facing an overnight trip after the game. If you are looking for a comfortable and functional environment during your stay in Milan, visit us and book with us.

All our hotels are conveniently located on the outskirts of Milan, making them perfect for football fans. We offer exclusive services to ensure maximum comfort for our guests, such as free WiFi, laundry service, car rental with driver and airport shuttle.

We are confident that we can offer our guests an unforgettable holiday in Milan. Visit us at our AN Hotels and enjoy the best of Italian hospitality!

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