Thirty years ago, the most incredible defeat of the national team

Thirty years have passed since that historic afternoon

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In Italy, a football event that is still talked about after three decades è the feat of Pontedera, a Tuscan Serie C2 team, which surprisingly defeated the national team led by Arrigo Sacchi before the 1994 World Cup in the USA. On April 6, 1994, a friendly was held in Coverciano during a post-Easter retreat of the national team aimed at assessing the players’ form just over two months before the start of the World Cup. 

The gathering saw the convocation of 18 players, including goalkeepers Marchegiani and Peruzzi, and important Milan figures such as Baresi, Costacurta, and Maldini, along with new talents such as Panucci and Negro. The group was rich in talent, with the likes of Albertini, Donadoni, Stroppa, Conte, Dino Baggio, Fontolan, Bianchi, and Ballon d'Oro winner Roberto Baggio, flanked by Signori, Massaro, and Casiraghi.

Under the guidance of Sacchi and athletic trainer Pincolini, the national team faced intense training in the days before. A friendly match behind closed doors was organized against Pontedera, refereed by young Pierluigi Collina. Pontedera played with grit, putting the Azzurri, who appeared tired and not very on the ball, in trouble, causing Sacchi’s disappointment. Rossi, in particular, shined for Pontedera, scoring with an elegant lob over Marchegiani and later created trouble on a corner kick, setting the stage for Aglietti to consolidate the 2-0 lead, putting Italy in great difficulty.

During halftime, Sacchi demanded more commitment from his team, making significant changes, such as the insertion of Massaro and Casiraghi. Massaro, in excellent form, scored at 52', rekindling hopes of avoiding the embarrassment, but the final result remained unchanged, marking a historic victory for Pontedera against the national team.