ITALY V ENGLAND – A LONG RIVALRY RENEWS
1934 - The Battle of Highbury Italy arrived at London’s Highbury Stadium for their first game since winning the 1934 World Cup for an unofficial ‘final’ against England - who had yet to enter the competition. A heavy tackle leaving defender Luis Monti with a broken foot set the tone and England raced into a three-goal lead as he limped on. He eventually went off before half-time, leaving Italy with 10 men, and the sides continued their retaliations with a mire of punches, kicks and broken bones. Even with a man short Italy almost snatched a draw after Giuseppe Meazza’s second half double but it ended 3-2.
1977 - England’s win not enough Only once have England beaten Italy in a competitive game and even then their 1977 triumph was not enough to reach the 1978 World Cup. A goal difference advantage of two put Italy in the driving seat for the sole qualification spot when they arrived Wembley for their penultimate game - with England, playing their last qualifier, needing a big win. Goals from Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking for a 2-0 win took them two points clear of Italy but the Azzurri had a card left to play and a simple 3-0 win over Luxembourg took them to Argentina the next summer.
1990 - Italy sign off in style Neither side wanted to be in the third-place play-off of the 1990 World Cup but it was hosts Italy who finished on a high with a 2-1 win. Argentina had eliminted Italy in a penalty shootout win in Diego Maradona’s adopted home of Naples while West Germany had disposed of England from the spot. Roberto Baggio and tournament top scorer Salvatore Schillaci left David Platt’s equalizer moot.
1997 - One night in Rome Heroic rearguard actions are more associated with Italy than England but Glen Hoddle’s side produced a masterful reproduction of the Azzurri in Rome to reach the 1998 World Cup. Italy had won the first meeting between the sides at Wembley but subsequent slips left them needing another victory over England to reach France. It never looked like coming in a stoic 0-0 but Italy, runners-up in the previous World Cup, did eventually make it through the play-offs.
2012 - Pirlo Panenka sets tone England were huge underdogs at Euro 2012 but Roy Hodgson’s side - channelling 1997 - frusrtated a much stronger Italy in their Kiev quarter-final. A goalless draw was settled on penalties and Andrea Pirlo’s iconic Panenka helped swing momentum to Italy after Riccardo Montolivo’s miss gave England first blood. Ashley Young and Ahsley Cole then failed from the spot and Italy progressed, eventually losing 4-0 to Spain in the final.
2014 - Powers in decline Italy and England were drawn in a ‘group of death’ alongside Uruguay and Costa Rica at the Brazil World Cup of 2014. With the South and central American sides expected to fare well, their opening meeting was deemed crucial and Italy took the honours thanks to Mario Balotelli’s 2-1 winner after Claudio Marchisio and Daniel Sturridge traded rapid goals. England were eliminated by Uruguay in their next outing but Italy were also a shadow of their former selves and two further losses sent them home as well.