Go back to 10th June 1968. It is 31 minutes into the replay of the final of the European Championships between Italy and Yugoslavia, and with the Azzurri already one up, Pietro Anastasi nets the second that would eventually seal the win. Just over half an hour played, and the hosts are already cantering to victory.
It will prove to be the only success Italy have ever enjoyed on the European Stage – failing to qualify for the following two tournaments, and aside from the staunch defensive displays that saw Dino Zoff lead Italy to the final in 2000, the Azzurri have stumbled between absence and poor finishes for over 40 years.
Is there any reason for such poor performances? For a side that has won four World Cups, the most recent ironically taking place on European soil in Germany, the Azzurri would be expected to command an equally impressive record on the continent too. When the Italy took the prize home in 1968, there were only four teams competing, they were on home soil and they still required a replay to put aside Yugoslavia. Since the format of the tournament has grown, Italy have consistently faltered to make the latter stages.
Following their World Cup run in 1970, where arguably the greatest ever international side were the only reason why Italy didn’t bring home the trophy, 1972 should have been the pick up the Azzurri deserved, their ranks still filled by Gianni Rivera, Sandro Mazzola, Fabio Capello and Dino Zoff, players all at their physical peak. Their absence then, is unexplainable. However, by the 1974 World Cup, the same faces were still around, and beginning to to fade. Italy slumped to a group stage finish in Germany and failed to qualify for the Euro’s two years later.
1976 represented the stop gap, the rebuilding between the generation of the late 60’s and early 70’s, and the team that saw Italy take home the 1982 World Cup. However, like in 1972, 1984 saw another Azzurri-less European Championships. Which, when looking at the Italy squad that sealed that famous triumph in Barcelona isn’t a surprise. From Dino Zoff(40) down, Italy’s ranks featured players in the twilight of their peak, or past it entirely. Add two years to that, and there is a noticeable issue. Italy once again faced a re-shuffle.
By 1988, for once in time for European tournament – Italy’s squad featured a host of fresh faces including Roberto Mancini, Roberto Donadoni, a 21-year old Ciro Ferrara and a 19-year old Paolo Maldini. For their bravery, Italy were rewarded with a 4th place finish, and the basis of a squad that probably should have won a World Cup in 1990 or 1994. But yet again, 1992 saw Italy not even make the opening ceremony, failing to qualify once again. Unlike previous outings, Italy had a great side but came up short.
Since 1996, Italy have made every European Championships, but exited at the group stages twice in the last four. In 1996, Italy once again held onto their stars too long and faced embarrassment, failing at the first hurdle. 2000 was the only tournament where Italy really hit form – collating a strong squad featuring Francesco Toldo, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Del Piero and an inspired Francesco Totti, it was only a World Champion (and rather fortunate) French side that saw them off in extra time of the final.
In 2004, Italy was made up of a combination of the players who were veterans of the Azzurri’s last three international tournaments, and the players who would later make up the impenetrable spirit that became forever associated with the 2006 World Cup triumph, and rather over indulged with mediocre players who seemed just to be there because of experience; the likes of Guiseppe Favalli, Bernardo Corradi and Stefano Fiore all receiving call-ups, whilst 2008 was quite literally same old same old – the likes of Christian Panucci, Massimo Ambrosini, Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluca Zambrotta and Luca Toni all fading fast.
Which brings us up to date. As the annals of history have showed, Italy and the European Championships don’t get along. In a country that values experience and know-how above most other things in football, it appears the European Championships always arrive at an awkward time for the Azzurri, caught between the desire to rebuild and the temptation to fall back on reliable faces. Whereas the World Cup is the culmination of a four year project, which includes a rebuilding and development process, the European Championship’s seem to act as a premature “mock” before the big exam, or a bitter hangover from a glorious night before.
However, this time around, Italy seem to have learnt their lesson. Mixing the experience of Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo with the youth and exuberance of Sebastian Giovinco and Mario Balotelli, Italy have built a strong, flexible side that is full of players in the prime of their careers. After over 40 years of disappointment, Italy may this time throw the European monkey off their back.
