Italy is one of the world's leading football nations. The Italian national football team has won the Football World Cup four times, and Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful footballing nation in Europe. Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... First international Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Largest win Italy 9 - 0 USA (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 Italy (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 European Championship Appearances... The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ...

History

Football was introduced to northern Italy in Genoa by mainly English and Swiss expatriates in the late 19th century.
The first matches were played in Genoa, Milan and Turin. The first clubs exclusively dedicated to this new kind of sport to be formed in Italy was Genoa Cricket & Football Club (1893). Genoa (Genova in Italian - Zena in Genoese) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Genoa (Genova in Italian - Zena in Genoese) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ... Milano redirects here. ... Turin (Italian: ; Piedmontese: Turin) is a major industrial city as well as a business and cultural center in northwest Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. ... It has been suggested that Genoa cricket and football club be merged into this article or section. ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

National championship

A first national competition organized by the Italian Federation of Gymnastics (F.N.G.I.) was played in 1896 and won by the S. Udinese G.S. team from Udine (north east Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region). In 1897, a second national gymnastic-football tournament was staged by the FNGI and was won by S.G. Torinese. In 1898 the Federation Italienne du Football (FIF - FIGC) was finally formed and the first national championship was organized, with regional tournaments and playoffs. This is considered to be the first proper national football championship. The first national championship was won by Genoa Cricket & Football Club Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, forward rolls, aerials and tucks. ... 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... REDIRECT Udinese Calcio ... Udine (Friulian Udin, Slovene Videm) is a city in the north-east of Italy, capital of the historical region of Friuli, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps (Alpi Carniche), less than 40 km far from the Slovenian border. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) (Italian: Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) is the governing body of football in Italy. ... It has been suggested that Genoa cricket and football club be merged into this article or section. ...

F.I.F - F.I.G.C. Official Italian Championship

See Serie A Italian football league system

This article is about the Italian football (soccer) league. ... The Italian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for football clubs in Italy. ...

National team

The Italian national football team, called "Azzurri" for their blue shirts, are the second-most successful national team in the world. Their honours include: First International Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Largest win Italy 9 - 0 USA (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 Italy (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 15 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982 European Championship Appearances 6...

• 4 Football World Cups
• 1 European Football Championship
• 1 Olympic Gold Medal
• 5 European Championships U21
• 3 European Championships U18
• 2 European Championships U16
• 7 Summer Universiades
• 8 World Military Championships
• 1 European Futsal Championship

They have been finalists in: The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... The UEFA European Championship is the main football competition of the mens national football teams governed by the UEFA. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the European Nations Cup, changing to the name European Football Championship...

• 2 World Cups
• 1 European Championship
• 2 Bronze medals at Olympic Games
• 2 European Championship U21
• 4 European Championship U18
• 3 European Championship U16
• 2 Summer Universiades
• 4 World Military Championships

World Champions Players

1934

• Combi
• Monzeglio
• Allemandi
• Ferraris
• Bertolini
• Monti
• Guaita
• Ferrari
• Orsi
• Meazza
• Schiavio

One of the best goal keepers of all time comparable to th elike sof zoff and yashin he played for juventus in the 30s ... Eraldo Monzeglio (born in Vignale Monferrato, Alessandria, June 5, 1906 – dead November 3, 1981) was an Italian footballer in defense role. ... Luigi Allemandi (born in San Damiano Macra, Cuneo, November 18, 1903 – dead in Pietra Ligure, Province of Savona, in 1978) was an italian footballer in defense role. ... Attilio Ferraris (March 26, 1904 – May 8, 1947) was an Italian football midfielder. ... Luigi Bertolini (born in Busalla, Genoa, September 13, 1904 – dead in 1977) was an italian football (soccer) player in midfielder role. ... Luisito Monti (born January 15, 1901, died 1983) is an Argentine football player who has the unique distinction of playing in two World Cup final matches with two different national teams. ... Enrique Lucas Gonzales Guaita, in Italy sometimes called Enrico Guaita or Il Corsaro Nero (born in Lucas, July 11, 1910 – dead May 18, 1959) was an Argentine–Italian football (soccer) player. ... Giovanni Ferrari (born December 6, 1907 in Alessandria; died December 2, 1982) was an Italian football (soccer) player. ... Raimundo Bibian Mumo Orsi (December 2, 1901 in Avellaneda – April 6, 1986) was a footballer, born in Argentina, who won the 1934 World Cup with Italy. ... For the stadium named after this man - which is more commonly known as the San Siro - see Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. ... Angelo Schiavio (15 May 1905 - 17 April 1990) was an Italian football player. ...

1938

• Olivieri
• Foni
• Rava
• Serantoni
• Andreolo
• Locatelli
• Biavati
• Ferrari
• Piola
• Meazza
• Colaussi

Note: Meazza and Ferrari are, with the Brazilians Cafu and Ronaldo (1994 & 2002), and Pelé (1958 & 1970), currently the only 5 players to have won 2 World Cup Finals. Aldo Olivieri (October 2, 1910 – April 5, 2001) was an Italian former football goalkeeper from 1931 to 1943, and trainer after World War II. Career Olivieri was born in born in San Michele Extra, in the province of Verona. ... Alfredo Foni (born January 20, 1911 - died 1985) was an Italian footballer in the 1930s and later on a coach. ... Pietro Rava (born January 21, 1916) is a former Italian football defender and coach. ... Pietro Serantoni (born in Venice, December 11, 1906 - dead October 6, 1964) was an Italian football (soccer) player in midfielder role. ... Michele Andreolo (born 6 September 1912 in Montevideo - died 1981) was a Uruguay-born Italian footballer. ... Amedeo Biavati (born in Bologna, April 4, 1915 – dead April 22, 1979) was an italian footballer. ... Giovanni Ferrari (born December 6, 1907 in Alessandria; died December 2, 1982) was an Italian football (soccer) player. ... Silvio Piola (September 29, 1913 in Robbio Lomellina, Italy - October 4, 1996 in Gattinara, Italy) was an Italian footballer whose career lasted from 1929 until 1954. ... For the stadium named after this man - which is more commonly known as the San Siro - see Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. ... Gino Colaussi was an Italian footballer. ... Marcos Evangelista de Moraes (born June 7, 1970 BC), better known as Cafu, is a Brazilian footballer, who is currently a mofo trying to survive in the brazilian national team. ... Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima (born September 22, 1976), simply known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. ... Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil), best known by his nickname Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player, and widely regarded to be the greatest of all time. ...

1982

• Zoff
• Gentile
• Scirea
• Collovati
• Bergomi
• Cabrini
• Oriali
• Tardelli
• Conti
• Graziani(8° Altobelli-88° Causio)
• Rossi

Dino Zoff after the victory of Italy at the 1982 World Cup. ... Claudio Gentile. ... Gaetano Scirea (May 25, 1953 - September 3, 1989) was an Italian football player and one of the greatest defenders of all-time: Scirea is one of the very few players to have won all national and international trophies for football clubs. ... Fulvio Collovati (born 9 May 1957) was an Italy football defender, playing for several Serie A teams and in the starting eleven for the Italian national team. ... Giuseppe Bergomi (born December 22, 1963 in Milan) is a former Italian football (soccer) player, who spent his entire career at Internazionale and was a key member of the Italian national team in the 1980s and 1990s. ... Antonio Cabrini, (born October 8, 1957) is a football (soccer) coach and former successful player from Italy. ... Gabriele Oriali (November 25, 1952) was an Italian soccer player who mainly played defensive midfield but could also play center-back. ... Marco Tardelli, (born September 24, 1954) is a former football (soccer) player from Italy, and currently chairman of Juventus F.C.. He played defensive midfielder with Juventus and the Italian national team. ... Bruno Conti (born March 13, 1955 in Nettuno, province of Rome) is an Italian ex-soccer player and former coach of the Serie A team A.S. Roma from 14 March 2005 to 30 June 2005. ... Francesco Ciccio Graziani (born December 16, 1952 in Subiaco, Rome) is a football manager and former player. ... Alessandro Altobelli (born November 28, 1955 in Sonnino, Italy) is an Italian football player. ... Franco Causio, born on February 1, 1949 in Lecce (Italy), is a former Italian footballer who played for Juventus for many years in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Paolo Rossi in World Cup Spain 1982. ...

2006

• Buffon
• Grosso
• Cannavaro
• Gattuso
• Toni
• Totti
• Camoranesi
• Zambrotta
• Perrotta
• Pirlo
• Materazzi
• Del Piero
• De Rossi
• Iaquinta

Gianluigi Gigi Buffon (born January 28, 1978) is an Italian FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper, who is widely considered the best in the current game. ... Fabio Grosso, Cavaliere (born November 28, 1977) is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A team Internazionale and the Italian national football team, with whom he won the 2006 World Cup. ... Fabio Cannavaro (born September 13, 1973, Naples, Italy) is a professional Italian footballer, currently playing for Real Madrid. ... Gennaro Rino Ivan Gattuso (born January 9, 1978 in Corigliano Calabro) is an Italian World Cup winning footballer. ... Luca Toni (born May 26, 1977 in Pavullo nel Frignano, Modena) is an Italian, World Cup winning, football player. ... Francesco Totti, Cavaliere (born September 27, 1976 in Rome) is an Italian football player, who currently plays for A.S. Roma in Serie A and for the Italian national team, who are the current world champions after winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup. ... Mauro Germán Serra Camoranesi (born October 4, 1976 in Tandil, Argentina) is a football midfielder, who currently plays for Juventus of Serie A. Camoranesi is a member of the Italy national football team and was a World Cup winner with them at the 2006 World Cup. ... Gianluca Zambrotta (born February 19, 1977 in Como) is an Italian football player. ... Simone Perrotta (born September 17, 1977 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England) is an Italian football midfielder who currently plays for A.S. Roma in Serie A. He was member of the Italian national football team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. ... Andrea Pirlo, Cavaliere (born May 19, 1979) is an Italian footballer. ... Marco Materazzi, Cavaliere (born August 19, 1973 in Lecce) is an Italian football defender, who currently plays for Serie A club F.C. Internazionale Milano, better known as Inter Milan. ... Alessandro Del Piero, Cavaliere (born November 9, 1974 in Conegliano) is an Italian football player. ... Daniele De Rossi, Cavaliere (July 24, 1983) is an Italian football player who plays midfield. ... Vincenzo Iaquinta (born November 21, 1979 in Cutro, Crotone) is an Italian football striker, who currently plays for Udinese of Serie A. As many Calabrians in the 1980s Vincenzos parents emigrated to Emilia-Romagna, in Northern Italy, because of better job opportunities. ...

European Champions players

1968

• Zoff
• Burgnich
• Salvadore
• Guarneri
• Facchetti
• Rosato
• Domenghini
• De Sisti
• Anastasi
• Mazzola S.
• Riva

Tarcisio Burgnich (born April 25, 1939 in Ruda, Italy) is a former Italian football defender. ... Giacinto Facchetti. ... Pietro Anastasi (born in Catania, April 7, 1948), nicknamed Petruzzu u turcu by fans, was a former footballer, playing in the striker role. ... Sandro Mazzola (born November 8, 1942 in Turin, Italy) was a football player. ... Luigi Riva (born November 7, 1944 in Leggiuno, close to Milano), best known as Gigi Riva, is a former Italian footballer, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team. ...

European competitions for clubs

• 10 European Cups/Champions League won in 23 finals. (first is Spain with 11/20)
• 7 Cup Winners' Cups won in 11 finals (first is England with 8/13)
• 10 UEFA Cups/Fair Cups won in 18 finals (second is England with 10/17)
• 8 Supercups with 11 finals (second is England with 6/11)

In Total:

• Italy, 35 cups and 63 finals.
• England, 33 cups and 52 finals.
• Spain, 32 cups and 60 finals.