Italy once won 9-0 … but that was a few years ago

With Norway, Italy must win by a nine-goal margin to qualify for the upcoming World Championships to be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States without going through the very dangerous playoffs: mission impossible.

Touring through the annals, it turns out that once the Azzurri actually won a match 9-0, it happened in Brentford, England, at the 1948 Olympics: it was the Americans who came out with broken bones; on the bench for ours was Vittorio Pozzo, who had already won two World Cups, in 1934 and 1938.

Italy-United States 9-0

Italy: Casari, Giovannini G., Stellin, Presca, Neri M., Mari, Cavigioli, Turconi, Pernigo, Cassani V., Caprile. Coach: Pozzo

United States: Strimel, Costa, Martin, Colombo, Ferreira, Bahr, Beckham, Souza J. B., Bertani, McLaughlin, Souza E. Coach: Glieser

Nets: Pernigo 2′, 57′, 88′ and 90′, Stellin on penalty 25′, Turconi 46′, Cavigioli 72′ and 87′, Caprile 89′