ITALY 0-0 NETHERLANDS, Pescara, 14/11/09

Challengers Italy and continuing champions the Netherlands played out a goalless draw in Pescara tonight in a title match overshadowed by an apparently serious injury to Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

The Dutch were the better side in the first half, and Dirk Kuyt came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Italy improved in the second half, and Giampaulo Pazzini had the ball in the Dutch net, only to have the effort disallowed off for handball.

Van Persie had left the field within the first fifteen minutes, after falling awkwardly following a challenge with Giorgio Chiellini.

The draw means that the Dutch retain the UFWC title, and will defend it on Wednesday against Paraguay.

Match Reports Italy, Netherlands

ITALY vs NETHERLANDS, Pescara, 14/11/09

On Saturday, Official Football World Champions Italy will take on Unofficial Football World Champions the Netherlands. How much more of a build-up does one match need?

Italy have been official champions since the 2006 World Cup final, of course, and had a brief spell as unofficial – and undisputed – champions in early 2007.

The Dutch have held the unofficial title for 51 weeks, winning seven and drawing three of ten UFWC title matches.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has called up debutants Davide Biondini of Cagliari and Antonio Candreva of Livorno. But he will be without Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi, who fractured a cheekbone in a clash with Inter’s Patrick Viera at the weekend.

For Holland, Bert van Marwijk welcomes back Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel after injury, and also recalls Nigel de Jong, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, who all missed last month’s UFWC draw with Australia in Sydney. Van Persie could be offered a central striking role following his strong run of form for Arsenal, and in the absence of out-of-favour Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The game will be played at the relatively small Stadio Adriatico in Pescara, Abruzzo, with all proceeds going to the victims of the recent Abruzzo earthquake. The stadium is home to Delfino Pescara 1936 (or Pescara Calcio), who play in Lega Pro Prima Divisione (formerly Serie C1).

Should Italy win, they will become undisputed Official and Unofficial Football World Champions, and they will take the UFWC title into a match against Sweden on the following Wednesday.

If the Netherlands win or draw, they will retain the UFWC title, and will look to defend it against Paraguay, also on Wednesday 18 November.

Match Previews Italy, Netherlands

Italy will have another chance to become undisputed official and unofficial champions on 14 November when they take on current title holders the Netherlands. Ahead of that match we look at the first time Italy were crowned undisputed champions.

ITALY 3-1 WEST GERMANY, 11 July 1982
World Cup final, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
Scorers: Rossi, Tardelli, Altobelli (Italy); Breitner (West Germany)

Spain 82 saw a UFWC / World Cup final double-header. The title had been taken into the 1982 tournament by Peru, then snatched by Poland, and then won by Italy at the semi-final stage.

West Germany saw off France on penalties in their semi – an epic match overshadowed by a brutal foul by German keeper Harald Schumacher on French defender Patrick Battison. That controversy, coupled with grumbles over an alleged fixed first round match between West Germany and Austria that saw both sides cruise through to the next round, meant that few neutrals were cheering on the Germans.

Italy had beaten Brazil and Argentina in the second round, and boasted the likes of Dino Zoff, Guiseppe Bergomi, Marco Tardelli, and Paolo Rossi in their side.

But the Germans had held England to a draw and beaten Spain in their second round games, and also had an impressive line-up including Schumacher, Paul Breitner, Pierre Littbarski, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Few would have argued against the fact that Italy and West Germany were the best teams in the tournament. But which would come out on top in front of 90,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers?

West Germany enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges, but an Italian defence marshalled by Zoff and Bergomi held firm. And, after successfully soaking up the German pressure, Italy broke upfield and won a penalty. Antonio Cabrini stepped up to take the kick – but blasted the ball wide of Schumacher’s right-hand post.

In the second half, Italy began to show their superior technical ability and, in the 57th minute, Claudio Gentile’s curling cross eluded everyone but Rossi, whose stopping header shot past Schumacher to make the score 1-0.

With the Germans now forced to push forward in search of an equaliser, Italy exploited gaps at the back. First Rossi and Gaetano Scirea combined brilliantly to set up Tardelli, who scored with a low drive.

Then a surging run from Conti set up Alessandro Altobelli, who sidestepped Schumacher and scored a third.

Breitner pulled one back for West Germany with a drive from the edge of the area with seven minutes left to play, but his muted celebration suggested that the Germans knew it was nothing more than a consolation.

Italy were champions, officially, unofficially, and indisputably.

Classic Matches Germany, Italy

Hungary 3-1 Italy Budapest, 22/08/07
Di Natale 49, Juhasz 61, Gera 66 pen, Feczesin 76

Hungary are the new Unofficial Football World Champions, defeating Italy and depriving the Azzurri of the unofficial and undisputed titles.

Italy started brightly, but were twice denied by Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop, currently on loan at Leicester City. The hosts fought back, and created good chances, but at half-time the score remained 0-0.

The deadlock was broken four minutes into the second half, with substitute Antonio Di Natale finishing smartly to give Italy the lead. But the Azzurri looked out of sorts, perhaps as a result of the late start to the Italian domestic season, and Hungary capitalised.

Roland Juhasz was left unmarked in the box to equalise after 61 minutes, skipper Zoltan Gera converted a penalty on 66, and Robert Feczesin finished a brilliant team move on 76 to give Hungary a fine 3-1 win.

Italy, who can no longer claim to be undisputed world champions, were deserved losers, and Fabio Cannavaro bore the brunt of the criticism from Italian fans. The 33-year-old World Cup-winning defender conceded the rash penalty that led to Hungary’s second goal, and was easily beaten in the build-up to the third.

But Hungarian newspapers toasted their nation’s win after years of underachievement. Magyar Nemzet proclaimed, ‘Something has returned from the old, forever lost glory, we beat the world champions 3 to 1.’ Nepszabadsag called the result, ‘the most beautiful soccer feat in recent memory.’

Hungary become UFWC champions for the first time since 1971. The country’s next UFWC title match is a Euro qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina on 8 September.
Hungary vs Italy – watch the goals
Hungary: Fulop, Szelesi, Vasko, Juhasz, Vanczak (Csizmadia 73), Vass, Tozser (Leandro 59), Hajnal (Filkor 59), Gera (Buzsaky 90), Priskin (Feczesin 73), Dzsudzsak (Halmosi 82)

Italy: Buffon, Oddo (Grosso 46), Cannavaro, Materazzi (Barzagli 46), Zambrotta, Pirlo, Aquilani (Palombo 66), Ambrosini, Quagliarella, Toni (Inzaghi 46), Del Piero (Di Natale 46)

Match Reports Hungary, Italy