Unbeaten Italy’s journey to the record of 82 years ago
KATHMANDU: JUNE 26 – Italy is considered the title contender in every major competition. Whether it is the World Cup or the Euro Cup, Italy, which has always had an image of ‘clashing’ in the title, could not be selected in the 2018 World Cup. After that, many were less interested in Italy. Italy, who were knocked out of the Euro four years ago in a penalty shootout with Germany in the quarterfinals, are looking to improve their image as they have not been selected for the World Cup.
Italy, who last lost 1-0 to Portugal in the group stage of the UEFA Nations League in September 2018, have been unbeaten in 30 games since then and are on a mission to break their own record.
The hero behind all these victories of Italy is the coach Roberto Mancini, he has sharpened the potential of Italy and has been making possible one victory after another. Italy have reached the last 16 after winning all group stage games since the Euro Cup qualifiers. Not only that, Italy has not conceded a goal in the last 11 games.
After scoring seven goals in three games of the group stage, Italy was the only team to reach the knockout stage by winning all the games without conceding a goal in the group stage.
Able to break the record of 82 years
Four-time world champions Italy are on the verge of breaking their own 82-year record. Italy will be able to break their own 1930s record at Wembley in the last 16 of the Euro Cup against Austria today. The then coach Vittorio Pozzo kept Italy unbeaten for 30 games from October 1935 to July 1939.
During this time Italy won the 1938 World Cup and the 1936 Olympic gold. With today’s win at Wembley, Italy will remain unbeaten on 31 games, breaking their previous 30-match unbeaten streak.
Faith in Mancini
Mancini was appointed coach six months after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Mancini, who signed on May 14, 2018, was signed until 2020. However, his contract was automatically extended a year after the Euro Cup was postponed. Italy, led by Mancini, won their first friendly match against Saudi Arabia on May 28, 2018. As soon as the team was selected for Euro 2020, his contract was extended until 2022. Encouraged by one victory after another, Italy has extended his contract until 2026 on 17 May 2021.
Equal to Argentina
In preparation for the new record, Italy will break its own record to equal Argentina, the second-longest undefeated team. Argentina had an unbeaten run in 31 games from 1991 to 1993. But Brazil and Spain top the list of teams unbeaten for most games. Brazil was unbeaten in 35 games from 1993 to 1996 and Spain was unbeaten in 35 games from 2007 to 2009.
Similarly, from 1991 to 1993, Argentina was unbeaten in 31 games. Italy was unbeaten in 30 games from 1935 to 1939 and is now unbeaten in 30 games since 2018. From 1994 to 1996, France was also unbeaten in 30 games. Italy is not alone in being undefeated for a long time since 2018.
At the same time, Algeria is undefeated. Algeria is following Italy. Algeria has made an unbeaten run in 27 games since 2018. Germany was unbeaten in 23 games from 1978 to 1981, while France was unbeaten in 23 games from 2010 to 2012.
