Germany 2006 semi final. Because when we beat them, I knew the cup was ours. As much as the penalty victory vs France pleased me, when we won I was too stressed and relieved to really appreciate it. When Grosso's kick went in I couldn't believe it and began shouting immediately. The semi final of 2012 vs Germany was also immense. England qtr final win also because I thought we were gona in the shootout, and like germany, I love to beat these nations because they don't like us and we would have never heard the end of it had we lost. Another reason why Im so glad we beat Australia, the nation that I was born and live in { my parents were both born in Italy and migrated here } When the '' Socceroos '' made the world cup, every prick and their dog jumped on the bandwagon. TBH, I ********ing hate 95 percent of Australian football fans for the '' ohhhhhhhhhh we wuz robbed '' bullshit they kept saying after ten man Italy beat them. The way the aussie media pumped them up and players like Lucas Neil carried on before and after the game, I cant stand them. Beating France in 2008 and knocking them out was also very sweet. Spain and Bulgaria 1994 were also victories that made me very happy as this was the very first Italia games in full and live that I had ever watched. I knew we werent going to beat Brazil tho, but I can live with that loss, although it made me more disappointed than the Spain defeat, at least we came close and werent flogged. The Spain game was over quicker than it began.
The Holland game in 2000 is one of the best performances ive seen. And one of the best wins ever. to play that dutch team who were the best in the tournament until that point with te men for 90 miutes, surviving 2 penalties then beating them in a shootout where we always lose, was unreal. The reason I didnt name it, was because then being at 17 years of age and a little clueless, I went to bed after Bergkamp hit the post thinking for sure we were going to lose. I didnt watch the full game live so therefore I can not truly comment what it meant seeing the whole thing. When I woke up the next morning and asked my dad the score, he said to me '' what did yugioslavia lose to holland last game '' I said bullshit they lost by that much? he said '' no, they won on penalties '' I couldnt believe it! I have that game on vhs somewhere, that defensive display, probably the best of all time. Another funny but memorable moment was when the final of 2006 was on, I was watching it in my room with a mate and our version of the game was slightly ahead because i was watching it through a set top box, which was ahead by about 3 seconds compared to the tv in the lounge where everyone else was watching it. So for the penalty shootout, I was saying '' YEEAAAHHHHHHH '' or '' AHHHHHHHHHHH '' just before they would actually see it. They though at first i was trying to put off france ahaha. But they quickly caught on that my signal was slightly ahead. So when Grosso converted, I shouted out ''YEEAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH '' and they knew his penalty went in and we won seconds before they witnessed it. They said they were happyjust knowing we won it and he converted. Boy that final was magic thinking back to it how Materazzi equalised. I was so upset I thought we would lose for a while after Zidane converted and even in the shootout i thought not again. Man I love the azzurri so much. I keep thinking if only was beat Spain. TBH after we beat Germany It didnt feel like it did in 2006 after we beat them. I knew we'd win it in 2006, although that feeling changed throughout the final. But after the semi final win this year I didnt have that same feeling. I always pictured Casillas lifting the trophy. But I do admit on sunday night hours before the game it started to feel like 2006 allover again. So I thought we could do it. As metalicblue said the fact we got smashed and the game was the complete opposite of what we had to offer for the rest of the tournament is the most painful thing. Which leads me to another question I will ask in a new post.
I think the best Azzurri victory was beating Brazil in 1982 just because no boy expected to beast them Most recently I have to say beating both England and Germany were great just because it shut up thre English for once.
Historically, Italy v Brazil from WC 82. The match was played six years before I was born but watching a game in which your team beats its greatest rival is a great feeling. One worth watching on the old VHS! As for wins I've actually witnessed, nothing can top beating England at this year's Euros. I'm sure that every fanboy had their ignorance exposed, especially the generally xenophobic English press. The old cliches and stereotypes could not save them from the truth. WC 06 against France was satisfying because we won the trophy and got revenge for WC 98 and Euro 2000. It was also good to beat an a**ehole like Domenech but that still can't top beating the Three Lions.
ya i think best ever prob 82 WC vs. brazil but i was only 2 then so didnt see it. i will go with this past euro semis against germany. just cuz EVERYONE thought germany was EASILY gonna beat italy....so it proved everyone wrong. and it was a well played game, not last min. goals or only few chances....game was totally dominated. That was satisfying to see how the shit talkers got what they deserved.
I wish we put away some of those chances tho from Di Natale and Marchisio. We should have murdered them by at least 3. Really rub their noses in the dirt. I dont thik it was a penalty at the end either to Germany tho.
ya i was really disappointed in marchisio especially, he is my fav player right now and he was very selfish on that play....which is uncharacteristic of him, he is always a team player, all he had to do was pass that ball to open di natale...but yea there were 2 other very close chances that di natale and diamanti missed too but that was a penalty, the ball did hit balzaretti's hand, it was unintentional i believe but the ref had to give it