No game thread so I started one. Looks like Ventura has Italy lining up in a 4-2-4. Italy XI: Scuffet; D’Ambrosio, Caldara, Ferrari, Conti; Gagliardini, Baselli; Berardi, Petagna, Lapadula, Chiesa. San Marino XI: Benedettini; Cesarini, Cavoli, Biordi, Brolli; Cervellini, Golinucci, Hirsch, Vitaioli; Tosi, Rinaldi.
Commentator mentioned that Italy's record is a 9-0 win. Mamma Mia! Just two more and Ventura has an Azzurri record with an expiremental squad!!
That's seems true in regards to football. Still, better Italy teams have played San Marino before and not scored this much.
They're toying with their siblings. @falvo you finally got your Italy that runs up the score on small teams Largo ai giovani
Final Score: Italy 8 San Marino 0 Would have been nice to see Ventura take the record, but I'm fine with the win. As far as the 4-2-4.. I'm not sure if the offensive formation had our opponents pinned back, or if San Marino was of such bad quality that it allowed our attacking unit to post up front, but I am still not sold. It will take a few more tests against stronger teams to be certain with that formation. I think it might be something that they might switch to during the game when they need a goal or want to start off strong, but the jury is still out if it could be used as the main formation at a modern international tournament.
Had to look it up. Two other occasions where we scored more than 8. One was against Egypt 11-3 on June 9, 1928 and the other was against France on January 18 1920, 9-4. It wasn't a one-off either, 5 years later on March 22, 1925 we crushed France 7-0, so it might as well have been San Marino then too There was another 8-0 vs Japan on August 07, 1936 That was before any of us, except @Falc were born. Enjoy it @falvo, might be another few years before they run up the score like that again
I believe there was a 7:0 elimination of '30 semifinalist USA in the '34 WC. It was one and out during those days.
Yeah, were you there btw? Our worst loss was against Hungary in the 20's as well, 7-1. There were a few 6-1 wins in between, one against Portugal and another vs Israel I think. Today is a historic day. Falvo must be getting drunk already. Falvo, where are you?!?