Italy-France: A Historical Look

Over the years there have been a number of major rivalries between national football teams. England and Germany, Argentina and Brazil, and Serbia and Croatia are some of the most obvious that spring to mind. Italy against France is another contest that can now be added to this list.

The two teams meet tomorrow night in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier, with the winner taking a huge step towards qualification to Austria and Switzerland. France currently lead the Azzurri by two points at the top of the Group B standings but a win for Roberto Donadoni's men will allow them to leapfrog their rivals into first place.

The build-up to the match in Milan has been littered with controversy, most of it emanating from the French camp. Les Bleus coach Raymond Domenech received a one-match touchline ban after openly accusing the Azzurrini (the Italy Under-21's) of fixing an Olympic qualifier against his French side in 1999.

This led to a furious response from 1982 World Cup-winning hero Marco Tardelli, who branded Domenech "an idiot and a sore loser." The flames seemed to have subsided a touch until, earlier this week, new Arsenal signing Lassana Diarra cranked up the tension by accusing Italy of being a nation of "provokers and cheats."

The reason for this hostile rivalry can be explained by the recent meetings between the two European neighbours.

History

In the 1998 World Cup France knocked out Italy in the quarter-final stage after a penalty shootout. Two years later the two squads met in the final of Euro 2000. The Azzurri led 1-0 in Rotterdam through a Marco Delvecchio goal and looked all set to claim their first major silverware for 18 years.

However, after Italian golden-boy Alessandro Del Piero missed two gilt-edged chances to double their advantage, France equalised in the fourth minute of stoppage time through Sylvain Wiltord, before fellow substitute David Trezeguet scored a golden goal in extra time to break Italian hearts.

The defeat had a devastating effect on the Azzurri. They badly underperformed in the next two major championships, losing to hosts South Korea in the second round of the 2002 World Cup and then failing to even navigate their way out of the group stages of Euro 2004.

It seemed only a victory against the team that had 'stolen' their trophy could banish the ghost of Rotterdam. Italy gained their revenge in the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany after another penalty shootout, but the means in which they achieved World Cup glory only served to intensify the animosity between the two nations.

The infamous sending-off of French legend Zinedine Zidane for a head-butt on Marco Materazzi and the controversy that surrounded the incident would linger on for weeks and months. Indeed the Inter defender only disclosed last month exactly what he said to Zidane that provoked the star to retaliate with a head-butt.

Less than two months after the World Cup Final, the two nations met again, in Paris, in the second round of Euro 2008 qualifying and the Azzurri, minus the suspended Materazzi, were convincingly overpowered 3-1 by a pumped-up French team.

Returning to the present, both teams have severe selection headaches and it may be the team that copes best with this situation that emerges victorious. Italy are without Materazzi through injury and Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta due to international retirement, while serious doubts also remain as to whether captain Fabio Cannavaro and talismanic striker Luca Toni will be fit to play.

The French also have numerous first-choice players unavailable. Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet and defensive stalwarts William Gallas and Willy Sagnol have been ruled out, while both Barcelona's Lillian Thuram and Internazionale's Patrick Vieira have had limited playing time this season and may not be deemed ready for such a blockbuster of a game. There are suggestions that the latter could be handed a start.

Whatever the line-ups are tomorrow night, rest assured that come 20:50 CET both countries will be going into war.

Statistics

Tomorrow night's return game will certainly be a fiery encounter between two of modern football's biggest enemies. Statistics are favourable to both teams. France have not lost to Italy in 90 minutes for almost 30 years, with their last defeat coming at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, when a young Paolo Rossi was on the scoresheet.

On the other hand Italy are unbeaten in Milan, the venue for tomorrow's qualifier, for an incredible 82 years. The last time the Azzurri tasted defeat was on the 18 January, 1925, in a friendly against Hungary. They have since gone 39 games at San Siro without losing.

Past Competitive Encounters

29-8-1920 (Antwerp) France 3–1 Italy (Olympic Games)

29-5-1928 (Amsterdam) Italy 4-3 France (Olympic Games)

12-6-1938 (Paris) France 1-3 Italy (World Cup) 2-6-

1978 (M.d.Plata) Italy 2-1 France (World Cup)

17-6-1986 (Mexico City) France 2-0 Italy (World Cup)

3-7-1998 (Paris) France 0-0 Italy (World Cup; 4-3 pen)

2-7-2000 (Rotterdam) France 2-1 Italy (European Championships; AET – Golden Goal)

9-7-2006 (Berlin) Italy 1-1 France (World Cup; 5-3 pen)

6-9-2006 (Paris) France 3-1 Italy (European Championship Qualifier)

Overall Record

Games: 34

Won by Italy: 17; Won By France: 8; Draws: 9

Goals by Italy: 77; Goals by France: 48