From 2000 to today, the Italian national team has given us incredibly intense emotions: immense joy, sporting heartbreak, and unforgettable moments, for better or worse.
Some matches have gone down in legend for their epic victories, others for defeats that hurt like few others.
A rollercoaster of emotions that can be summed up in 5 iconic matches of the new century.
😭 Euro 2000: the masterpiece that slipped away in 120 seconds
Dino Zoff’s Italy plays a perfect defensive match against France.
After Marco Delvecchio’s goal, the Azzurri withstand the French attacks for the entire game. In the second half, Alessandro Del Piero even has two huge chances to put it away… but wastes them.
Then the unthinkable happens: Wiltord scores in the 93rd minute, and in extra time David Trezeguet finishes it with a golden goal.
🏆 2006 World Cup: WORLD CHAMPIONS!
The final in Berlin against France explodes into life immediately: Zinedine Zidane scores with a Panenka penalty. But shortly after, Marco Materazzi equalizes with a header from a corner.
The match is incredibly balanced: Gianluigi Buffon pulls off an unbelievable save on Zidane in extra time. Then comes Zidane’s headbutt on Materazzi and the red card for the former Juventus Frenchman.
Italy is perfect in the shootout: Grosso’s decisive strike delivers the title.
💔 2017: Sweden and the playoff NIGHTMARE
After losing the first leg 1-0 in Sweden, Italy has everything on the line at San Siro. But the team led by Gian Piero Ventura looks slow, predictable, and nervous.
Crosses rain into the box without any effect, while technical players are inexplicably underused.
The result is a sterile 0-0: no World Cup. One of the darkest pages in modern Italian football.
😍 Euro 2020: HISTORY at Wembley
The final starts terribly: England scores after 2 minutes through Shaw. But Roberto Mancini’s Italy does not collapse. They keep the ball, grow into the game, and equalize through Bonucci from a corner.
Also iconic was Giorgio Chiellini’s foul on Saka, pulling his opponent back on the break.
In the shootout, Donnarumma becomes a national hero: he saves, he decides it, and Italy are champions of Europe.
😱 2022: the playoff NIGHTMARE returns
Against North Macedonia, Italy dominates: over 30 shots, huge possession, but zero goals.
Then, in the 92nd minute, disaster: a long-range shot from Aleksandar Trajkovski and a goal.
A classic case of “if you waste your chances, you pay for it”: Italy controls everything… except the result, and for the second World Cup in a row they are out before the final stage.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
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