Italy's share of old stars, their semi-final UEFA.com memories as Azzurri prepare for UEFA EURO 2012 Thursday last-four encounter with Germany.
Italy is expected to reach the final of this competition for the third time and first since UEFA EURO 2000, but the charges Cesare Prandelli must first overcome the powerfully impressive to Germany in the second semifinal at Warsaw on Thursday. Azzurri star of the previous tournaments shared their memories of the semi-final.
05/06/1968 Italy 0-0 USSR (AET, ITA won the coin toss) (Naples)
Giacinto Facchetti: In those days, there was no provision for a penalty shootout after the end of extra time. The game had to be decided by the toss of a coin. In sporting terms, one can not speak of a big win if you won the coin toss. But Italy had played almost the entire match with ten men due to injury, since, at that time, replacing an injured player was not included in the regulations either. Another of our players was suffering a severe cramp during extra time which ended with nine men and a half.
So I think it can be considered the sporting justice that Italy won the toss of the coin. The referee took an old coin and called the tail. It was the right decision and Italy to the final. As soon as the draw was over I ran upstairs - because the dressing rooms were in the basement level - to celebrate. The stadium was still full and nearly 70,000 fans were waiting to hear the result. My celebrations were told they could celebrate an Italian victory. And the public really celebrate, because it meant we were in a final for the first time in 30 years.
22/06/1988 USSR 2-0 Italy (Stuttgart)
Paolo Maldini: It was like a dream for me because I had not played much in the Italian national team. I had only played three games before going to Germany in 1988. We had a very young team and it was great to reach third. The tournament was not just a dream - which also was a valuable experience that taught me a lot of things for the future. It was a beautiful experience for us young players.
29/06/2000 Italy 0-0 Holland (Italy win 3-1 on penalties) (Amsterdam)
Francesco Toldo: As a fan that would take the party on top of your list, but for me that game was very nice and touching, but not first on my personal list. It was a magical game, that's for sure, the whole stadium was orange with only a small part of the blue Italian fans. There were six penalties and only one scored. It's amazing how the game developed.
We lost one of our players after 20 minutes, so he played the game with ten men. But we had our chances, especially with the two counterattacks started by [Alessandro] Del Piero, who could have scored a goal at that time. And it was the best performance of Italy in the tournament, because we came from a poor run of games after the EURO '96 and '98 World Cup. With the party that led the Italian fans closer to the national team again.
Italy is expected to reach the final of this competition for the third time and first since UEFA EURO 2000, but the charges Cesare Prandelli must first overcome the powerfully impressive to Germany in the second semifinal at Warsaw on Thursday. Azzurri star of the previous tournaments shared their memories of the semi-final.
05/06/1968 Italy 0-0 USSR (AET, ITA won the coin toss) (Naples)
Giacinto Facchetti: In those days, there was no provision for a penalty shootout after the end of extra time. The game had to be decided by the toss of a coin. In sporting terms, one can not speak of a big win if you won the coin toss. But Italy had played almost the entire match with ten men due to injury, since, at that time, replacing an injured player was not included in the regulations either. Another of our players was suffering a severe cramp during extra time which ended with nine men and a half.
So I think it can be considered the sporting justice that Italy won the toss of the coin. The referee took an old coin and called the tail. It was the right decision and Italy to the final. As soon as the draw was over I ran upstairs - because the dressing rooms were in the basement level - to celebrate. The stadium was still full and nearly 70,000 fans were waiting to hear the result. My celebrations were told they could celebrate an Italian victory. And the public really celebrate, because it meant we were in a final for the first time in 30 years.
22/06/1988 USSR 2-0 Italy (Stuttgart)
Paolo Maldini: It was like a dream for me because I had not played much in the Italian national team. I had only played three games before going to Germany in 1988. We had a very young team and it was great to reach third. The tournament was not just a dream - which also was a valuable experience that taught me a lot of things for the future. It was a beautiful experience for us young players.
29/06/2000 Italy 0-0 Holland (Italy win 3-1 on penalties) (Amsterdam)
Francesco Toldo: As a fan that would take the party on top of your list, but for me that game was very nice and touching, but not first on my personal list. It was a magical game, that's for sure, the whole stadium was orange with only a small part of the blue Italian fans. There were six penalties and only one scored. It's amazing how the game developed.
We lost one of our players after 20 minutes, so he played the game with ten men. But we had our chances, especially with the two counterattacks started by [Alessandro] Del Piero, who could have scored a goal at that time. And it was the best performance of Italy in the tournament, because we came from a poor run of games after the EURO '96 and '98 World Cup. With the party that led the Italian fans closer to the national team again.
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