Italy have never lost to England in a major tournament, while their record against Germany in competition is also excellent and they take on Marco Rossi’s Hungary in the Nations League Group of Death.
Roberto Mancini certainly did not get the luck of the draw today, despite being top seeds in the Nations League 2022/23 campaign after securing the bronze medal in the 2020/21 edition.
It comes just months after Italy beat England on penalties at Wembley, following a 1-1 draw, in July to lift the UEFA EURO 2020 trophy.
That result consolidated the statistic that Italy have never lost to England at a major tournament, winning 1-0 at Euro 1980, 2-1 in the 1990 and 2014 World Cups, then on penalties at Euro 2012 and the Euro 2020 Final.
Their total record against England, including friendlies, is of 12 wins, eight draws and eight defeats, the Azzurri scoring 39 goals and conceding 38.
England have just one victory over Italy in the last nine meetings, a 2-1 friendly result in August 2012, along with three draws and five defeats, two of those on penalties.
The rivalry with Germany is historic, including the Game of the Century in the 1970 World Cup semi-final, which ended 4-3 for Italy in extra time.
There was more recently the 2006 World Cup semi-final, which saw the Nazionale beat Germany on their own turf 2-0 in extra time with last-gasp goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero.
The record against Germany is of 15 Italy victories, nine defeats and 11 draws.
The tide has turned a little recently, with Italy not winning since the Euro 2012 semi-final, a 2-1 game sealed by the Mario Balotelli brace.
That was followed by a 1-1 friendly draw, 4-1 friendly defeat, the loss on penalties in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals and the 0-0 friendly draw in November 2016.
Italy have played Hungary on 33 occasions, winning 16, drawing nine and losing eight.
They haven’t crossed paths since the Azzurri’s 3-1 friendly loss in Budapest in August 2007.
There are very few occasions in which these nations met in official competition, Italy winning the 1938 World Cup Final 4-2, then just qualifiers.
In both those build-ups to Euro 1992 and the 2002 World Cup, Italy won at home and drew in Hungary.
The important issue here is that Hungary currently have an Italian coach, 57-year-old Marco Rossi, who has been at the helm since 2018.
He’s had very impressive results, managing 18 wins, eight draws and 13 defeats on their bench.
They forgot Italy beat Hungary 3-1 in the second match for both teams in the 1978 World Cup!
Hungary should be the team Relegated here but if Italy are forced to rebuild, then Italy could very well be instead. Italy will probably Draw England and Germany both times, then lose once to Hungary.
In 2 editions of this tournament, Germany have looked poor so it could even be them. England should be safe.
This draw is another farce. Just proves how biased UEFA and FIFA executive committes are toward Italy.
France with the easiest group from which to qualify to another semifinals in this joke of a competition.
Spain and Portugal only need to concern themselves with playing each other on their joke of a group.
Complete and utter corruption.
@Vittorio
How exactly did they fix it against Italy?
Since 2010 (just picking a random year, I can go back further on memory alone):
2010: Easiest WC Group in history. Failed to win a match. Made 1974 and getting Haiti in our Group seem like we got Brazil 1958.
2012: Difficult Group but every EC group is difficult.
2014: Moderately difficult. Who told Marchisio to get himself Red Carded? Bad luck on the Ref not seeing Suarez’s bite.
2016: Moderately difficult. Again, all EC Groups are difficult.
2018 Qualifiers: Difficult because our Results leading up to the World Cup Draw dropped us to the 2nd Pot and we then got Spain. Our own fault for horrible results between 2015-2017. Not a conspiracy. Iceland were a nice story but not getting a Result in that 1 match did the damage. Not playing that match would have kept us in Pot 1 (YES !).
2020: We avoided the Group of Death. France, Portugal, Germany, Hungary were it.
2022: We got Switzerland in our Qualifying Group which was probably the worst case scenario. But we finished 2nd because Berardi shot straight at Sommer, Jorgi missed 2 PK’s, Florenzi slipped and Acerbi can’t defend.
2022 Playoffs: got the easiest team in the SF in Northern Macedonia (again, all respect to these fine people). Worst possible team in the Final of all the Paths. A wash.
Explain to me the conspiracy or the intent to screw Italy again?
Brandon…You dont put 3 top seeded team in one group..that’s corruption
Same as they did to RM and accusing technical issues
Obviously cuz you seem British it seems difficult to see
Good analysis Brandon so true Italy only have themselves to blame for the positions they find themselves in over the years
Let’s go back to WC 1998 and EC 2000.
1. Italy is drawn to play France in the QF. Platini openly admitted in an interview back in 2012, I believe, that the FRench Futball Federation made certain with bracket manipulation that France could only face Brazil in the final should both have progressed through the knockout stages.
2. EC 2000. Italy’s reward for topping their group was to draw the Netherlands in the Nehherlsnds should both both teams have progressed to the semifinals. Both did and the ref harshly issued a red card against Italt and we played a man down for an hour prior to penalties.
3. The EC 2000 final when an Italian golden goal was questionably ruled offsides which would have won th eff match for Italy. France wins on a golden goal.
Plenty more examples, if necessary.
2010 WC the new zealand goal was offside, and the Slovakia game we were disallowed like some 3 goals as there was no VAR to see the balls crossing the lines.
2012 Euro final with spain we were robbed
there are many examples where there is a bias on italy, every expert connoisseur knows that, what about that ref on Totti are you kidding me on yet another WC?
ops forgot this delicious yarn and this is why Totti never wanted to be in the tourneys
during a major tourney game with France and all players were on the Italy end Totti stayed in the midfield and suddenly without provocation Barthez the France GK ran to the midfield and that is quite a distance even and kicked and punched Totti then returned to his net, nothing happen no red card-are you kidding me sir that there is no bias on Italy
1. EC 2020…
One of the few times Italy avoided a group of death. Law of averages would explain this. Namely, at some point a statistical outlier occurs. How often have France, Germany, and Spain been drawn is as many challenging groups as Italy? Statistically only about 33% as compared to approx. 66% for Italy.
2. England just so happened to have a much easier elimination round side of the bracket where they would play the EC 2020 final at Wembley stadium should they have advanced. Coincidence? During a EC that was specifically designed for neutrality? I think not.
The PL brings in too much TV revenue for UEFA’s coffers.
3. The European WC playoff draw “randomly” selected Portugal/Turkey as the home nation for the path C final. the draw was selected by a former Portugese player. Coincidence?
No.
Corruption. Yes.
1. Your example 1. Yes, I remember he said that but it was a favor for France and the other 30 teams got screwed like us then, no? How is only Italia getting screwed?
If Baggio not missed his volley in ET then we advance. Italy were 2nd best that match that day. What were doing out there? Didnt even play until ET.
We could have faced Brazil in R2 but since both of us won our groups, we played a very manageable Norway instead. But I see what you mean.
2. Your example 2. We played Romania in the QF. It’s not like we went right to The Netherlands. Back then it was only 6 matches. Not 7 like today’s EC. When you arrive at the SF, then usually all teams are difficult. France got Portugal. 4 teams in that SF were good. Also, Zambrotta’s Red Card was not scandalous. Again, Romania was our reward for topping the group.
3. Your example 3. No Italian Golden Goal waived off in the 2000 Final. Do you remember who? Do you remember the call on the pitch? I remember Del Piero missing 2 half-chances to make it 2-0.
Better question is: are you getting mixed up with Damiano Tommasi’s GG getting ruled out 2 years later againsr South Korea at the World Cup? I think you are, bro. No question that was a scandal. But we were not the only ones. Portugal a little bit earlier in the tournament and Spain the round after us. So yes, we got screwed but so did others.
Vittorio,
About 2020. 2 things:
– Keep in mind that Dublin was supposed to be a host city as well but backed off. Too lazy to check why. Could have been high virus numbers. So all their matches were picked up by London. I think Brussels backed off as well.
The Final was always going to be in London. Why the shock? Italy got 3 matches in Rome and we’re complaining? Portugal played Hungary in Budapest who allowed full capacity of a rabid crowd, Germany in Munich, and the World Champions, France.
Wales racked up more Air Miles than all. They did Baku, Baku, Rome, then Amsterdam.
Yet we are complaining about Italy getting shafted?
@Brandon…
Thank you for your insight. Always helpful to have fans who write who know the sport.
1. Yes. I do agree that all teams except for France were essentially screwed because of the FFF manipulating the braket elimination rounds to favor France. However, Iraly drew France in those QF.
2. EC 2000 final Italy vs. France…
Iraly had a goal disallowed for “offsides.” Tge offsides call was, itself, questionable as it was a “fraction” off. If France scores that kind of goal I bet the ref does not call offsides.
3. The red on Zambrotta was harsh. Scandalous, perhaps not. Harsh, yes. Even the English color analyst suggested on air (I watched and heard the replay) as much. A yellow, yes. A red. No.
4. 2002 WC was scandalous against Spain and Italy. This has been agreed upon. Byron Moreno even tacitly admitted his errors back in 2015, I believe.
Although, FifA clearly had an interest in assisting S. Korea to the semifinals. Why? $ into FiFA coffers.
All good, Vittorio. All good, brother.
Now I need to see the questionable call in the Final of Euro 2000.
For what it’s worth, at the time (back in 1990) people accused Italy (or FIFA on behalf of Italy) of fixing the Draw for their Home World Cup. A group of Austria, USA (remember in those years the USA had no league and pretty much used NCAA players. Unlike now
Back then the USA was a minnow) and last team, Ireland.
About the 2022 Playoffs, one thing I do find strange is that the 3 Paths just happen to be a coincidence?
Path A: Just so happens to have 2 British teams, Scotland and Wales.
Path B: Russia, Poland, Czech Republic you have 3 Eastern European teams of the 4.
Path C: 3 of the 4 are Southern European. Many people don’t think Turkey even belong in UEFA, perhaps I am one but I don’t want to bring politics religion into this board. But Turkey sure aren’t Northern European.
That’s quite the coincidence, to say the least.
@Brandon…
Thank you, again. We really need more reasoned fans, like yourself, to comment intelligently on matters of sport or any other topic, honestly. As you may know, as I speak for myself, open discussion, dialogue, debate is always preferable to censorship.
1. Would enjoy reading your and anyone else’s thoughts on the “offside” Italy disallowed goal vs. France in the EC 2000 final. Perhaps I am incorrect and the goal was actually correctly disallowed. I happen not to think so…but other observers may have a better insight.
2. Russia and Ukraine were not permitted to he drawn together because of the current military and geopolitical tension on Ukraine’s border with Russia.
3. Precisely my thought about the two Brisitish Isle countries drawn together.
4. Yes, I do remember the conspiracy theories about Italy bracketology for Italua 1990. The added issue at the time pertained to why the FIGC did not establish both semifinals to have been played in Rome. Some made the case that had the FIGC executive board conducted a more analytical analysis they would have perceived a potential Italy vs. Argentina semi-final.
The legitimate criticism pertained to their failure anticipating this semi-final matchup which was prior scheduled to have been played in Napoli…home club of Maradonna, at the time.
Napolitani unanimously supported Italy over Maradonna for this particular match. However, playing in Rome would have resulted in an Italy win as the theory goes. I happen to believe the % would have been much greater for an Italy win vs. Argentina in Rome.
Against my better judgement I just re-watched the last 5 Minutes of the 90 as well as the Extra Time of Euro 2000.
– No Italy offside in Extra Time. I was legitimately paying close attention to each and there is no hint of even one close offside,
In the last 2 Minutes of the 90 Minutes, I saw numerous mistakes made by Totti.
1) On the Right wing. Take the MF football to the corner flag and rag it there. Take 10 kicks to the legs if needed. Instead he passes it backwards to Pessotto who passes it even further back. If he takes it to the corner, the trophy is won. Probably doesn’t even have to win a Corner Kick if he takes it there.
2) I get it, he’s dead tired having played all match and the SF versus The Oranje 3 days earlier, but on one sequence he is walking and not hustling to get onside. Montella makes a dart into open space. Too much to the right side but maybe Montella goes to the corner flag to kill the clock. Montella looks at Totti not hustling to get back onside.
Thanks for the kind words.
Correction. It was all on one 15 second sequence.
Then what happens: since it was offside, Barthez kicks it from where it was offside and 2 headers later, Wiltord scores.
Toni,
Just saw your message now.
“Brandon…You dont put 3 top seeded team in one group..that’s corruption
Same as they did to RM and accusing technical issues
Obviously cuz you seem British it seems difficult to see”
OK, You are wrong. Way wrong. I will try to explain so you hopefully understand.
Just so you know, the Top Seeded Teams were: Italy, Spain, Belgium, France. (Germany and England were not top seeds).
Why, you may ask, were they the top seeded teams? Because these 4 teams made up the Finals of the last UNL. Remember just 2 months ago in Milano & Torino when Gigio got whistled? Remember that?
The pots, by design, simply reflect the outcome of the last NL. Pot 1 = last times’s group winners/final 4 participants, pot 2 and 3 2nd and 3rd placed teams respectively, pot 4=newly promoted teams.
So for Italy’s Group:
Pot 1: Italy. They won their Group in the 2020/2021 NL.
Pot 2: Germany finished 2nd in their group in the 2020/2021 NL.
Pot 3: England finished 3rd in their group in the 2020/2021 NL.
Pot 4: Hungary were promoted from League B.
So for 2024/2025 Nations League…
Say, for example, Italy finish 3rd (which is possible). Then they will be Pot 3.
If they finish 4th, they will be Relegated to League B. Will be Pot 1 of League B.
Hope this makes sense !
FWIW, chances are that the outcome of the NL tournament will directly determine the seeding list for the Euro 24 qualifiers. IOW, since there are likely going to be 10 groups again, winners, runners-up, and the better third-placed teams of League A are going to be the top seeds.
Also, it seems that the Euro playoffs will once more be selected strictly according to NL results. Although I’m not sure about the details. One thing’s for sure, it won’t be exactly like at the qualification for 2020. Wouldn’t add up, as the host nation gets automatic qualification again.
So far my observation is that UEFA want to make this it’s own tournament but to give importance to it.
NL Pots are based strictly on previous editions on the UNL. BUT European Qualifiers will be based on UNL as well, not previous European Championships. Just the way these current World Cup Qualifiers Playoffs were based on the UNL.
So what does this mean?
My second last message… say Italy finish in 3rd and they are not one of the best 3rd place teams, when the Draw is done for Euro 2024 Qualifiers, they could very well be a 2nd Seeded Team.
This has the makings of what happened the last time we dipped to Pot 2 and fished out Spain for World Cup 2018 Qualifiers.
Italy needs to finish top 2 in the next UNL. Being Holders will mean NOTHING when the Draw is done for Euro 2024 Qualifiers.
So save this message because then the Conspiracy Theories are really going to fly.