Italy Soccer Team
The Italy national football team is one of the
most successful national football teams, having won three
World Cups.
Italy has appeared in five World Cup finals
in total, losing two to Brazil, a 4-1 defeat in 1970 final
in Mexico and an agonising penalty shootout defeat in 1994,
after a 0-0 at the end of extra time. Italy has won two World
Cups consecutively, in 1934, when it was hosted in Italy,
beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in Rome and the 1938 World Cup,
beating Hungary 4-2. Italy also hosted the World Cup in 1990,
reaching the Semi-finals, losing 4-3 on penalties to Argentina
after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time. They beat England
2-1 in the third place play-off. They only conceded 2 goals
in the whole tournament.
Italy has won the European Championship once,
in 1968 when it was held in Italy. They drew 1-1 with Yugoslavia,
and then in the replay won 2-0. Italy also reached the final
of 2000, losing 2-1 to France after France equalised in the
90th minute and went on to win with a golden goal in extra
time. Italy were knocked out of 2004 in the first round, equal
on points to Sweden and Denmark, but scored fewer goals in
the first two group matches. Giovanni Trapattoni, the coach
was replaced by Marcello Lippi after Trapattoni's contract
expired on 15 July 2004.
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