Mauro Camoranesi remains something of an enigma. Shielded away from the appreciation he deserves, almost…
Tag: italy
Victory in defeat: how Franco Baresi’s 1994 World Cup final performance elevated him to the realms of the greats
This feature is part of Virtuoso The punishing Pasadena heat had taken its toll –…
How Paolo Rossi put Brazil to the sword in 1982 in a goalscoring masterclass few predicted
This feature is part of Virtuoso Few things in sport are as sad, are as…
Francesco Toldo: the understudy whose semi-final masterclass helped Italy to the Euro 2000 final
This feature is part of Virtuoso The life of a goalkeeper is all about preparation…
Can Roberto Mancini right the wrongs of a tricky decade and usher in a new era for Italy?
It was in November 2017 at the famed San Siro in Milan that Italy suffered…
Introducing Calcio II: the Football Italia years
Calcio is back by popular demand, and this time we’re headed for the Football Italia…
How Marcello Lippi masterminded the resurgence of Juventus in the 1990s
This feature is part of The Football Italia Years Fans of most football clubs understand…
Etched in stone: the genius of Giuseppe Meazza
He woke up groggily, still half-asleep, and looked around. He recognised the room but was less…
The genius of Gianfranco Zigoni, Italian football’s most outlandish character
For a country that’s linked so intrinsically with catenaccio, Italy has had its fair share of…
Gianni Rivera: the greatest playmaker in AC Milan history
Football fans support the team they do for various reasons, although most usually rely on…
The violence and the victory of Marco Materazzi
In 1532, Niccolò Machiavelli published a now-famous treatise on leadership and governance. ‘Il Principe’ advised that,…
Gigi Meroni: the art-loving wing genius who hit the pinnacle of calcio before his tragic death at 24
Opera was born in Italy at the end of the 16th century and soon spread…
Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini: the greatest defenders in calcio history
This feature is part of Duology At the heart of almost every successful team is…
Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso: the artist and the warrior
This feature is part of Duology Rosso e nero are more than just colours to…
Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and the last stand of great Italian defending
This feature is part of Duology The Italians prize their art. It is something that…
The triumph and tragedy of Armando Picchi and Gaetano Scirea, the legendary liberos who died by 36
For me, the term Calcio immediately conjures up images of the iconic blue shirt of…
Paolo Rossi: an incredible career of intoxicating peaks and controversial troughs
The very mention of Paolo Rossi can conjure to mind just one image, and this…
How Gianluca Zambrotta became one of the modern era’s finest full-backs
Marcello Lippi is an undisputed legend in football. Not only was he the mastermind behind…