That 2006 win was great, but as a teen watching them beat Brazil in 1982 was the greatest for me. Brazil squad was one of the best ever assembled.
1982 was phenomenal but i wasn't even born yet so i don't really appreciate it as much as 06. It's different to experience it as it happens vs history i suppose, also i was in Hamburg in 06 and got to see the Italy - Ukraine game live so i'm definitely biased.
Today is the anniversary of the 1994 World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California!! I can’t believe 27 years have passed! I’m not sure if the best game I ever saw Italy play but it was the most important game I’ve ever attended.
2006 v Germany. It was far from a vintage Germany team, but it was their first defeat in Dortmund and was fully merited, while the occasion and qualification for the final made it a game for the ages. I got more satisfaction from that win than even the final!
Love watching that game every so often on YouTube. Right from the first whistle you can tell there is a special vibe occurring in that game. Absolute boss lineup, total confidence in their ability across the pitch and grew more and more into the game, peaking at the right time. That was game management perfected in an incredibly tense atmosphere. Dont think it can be bettered.
I guess it's safe to assume that Italy can roll into anyone's house and push their shit in regardless of streaks/records.
Without question, it's Lippi's masterpiece. It wasn't a "vintage" German squad, but they had been gaining in confidence and expectations had been growing throughout the tournament, and they were certainly favored to win in Dortmund (in no small part because they'd never lost a competitive match there). But the Azzurri were so well balanced and so patient, Lippi's tactics were like a boa constrictor slowly suffocating its prey. Germany literally ran out of ideas as they tired, and Lippi broke them with his final substitutions during extra time. It was like watching a chess grandmaster checkmate his opponent after trapping them in his endgame.
Conte's dismantling of Germany at the EURO 2016 was pretty legit as well. That was probably the last talented Italy team of our lifetime and they completely outplayed the reigning World cup champs with loads of talent.
Something that gets lost because it was a tie, but we went completely toe to toe with Spain in the Opening matchday of Euro 2012 ended 1-1. I remember reading a story where that clownface Platini kept repeating "what a match....what a match" during the tie. And to be fair, he wasn't wrong. It was a beautiful Italia display that day. Trappatoni's complete dismantling of Wales 4-0 is also one the gets forgotten, and showed what we could be like with all our stars healthy and in the lineup. The game that will never be touched is the 2-0 win over Germany...unbelievable game. both teams went to war and the good guys won. That 2006 team could run with any team. The greatest national team of my lifetime. I'd play that team against any historical team. That team didn't understand losing...it wasn't a thing for them.
was a great game. still baffles me to this day though that Prandelli decided to switch gears and go with a 4-1-3-2 in the final vs Spain after he tested and had work the way to go toe to toe with that Spain with the 3-5-2 he had in the opening match (with De Rossi in the center of the back 3).