There was a time when worldwide friendlies the place way more than these days’ nuisance between league matchdays. Particularly for European nationwide sides, in an age when the one worldwide competitions had been the World Cup and the Olympic Match, they had been an opportunity for groups to check themselves towards some high-profile opponents that they knew little or no of.
That was even more true in put up World Conflict II Europe, the place soccer had resumed solely not too long ago, individuals had been hungry for normality and leisure, and gamers wanted new challenges. The match between Spain and Italy performed on the Stadio de Chamartin – Madrid’s major stadium earlier than it will change into referred to as the Santiago Bernabeu – on March 27, 1949, served precisely these functions.
Nevertheless, it will additionally go down in historical past as Valentino Mazzola’s final sport for Italy. Somewhat a couple of month later, the Azzurri captain perished with the entire Torino group within the plan crash referred to as the Tragedy of Superga.
On that day, Mazzola and his bunch gifted Italy with their first win on Spanish soil as by no means earlier than had the Azzurri managed to beat La Furia Roja at house. Italy received 3-1 with targets from Inter’s Benito Lorenzi, Milan’s Riccardo Carapellese, and Amedeo Amedei who additionally performed for the Nerazzurri. Torino’s goalkeeper Valerio Bagicalupo added insult to damage for Spain as he saved a penalty from Agustìn Gainza.
Valentino Mazzola and the opposite Grande Torino gamers had been the Nazionale‘s spine. Six out of the 11 gamers lined up by Italy’s technical fee head Ferruccio Novo towards Spain performed for Torino. The Granata had been extensively thought-about the perfect group in Europe however, sadly, there was no Champions League to show that.
One 12 months later, each Italy and Spain featured within the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. Spain managed to advance to the ultimate stage and ended fourth, whereas the Azzurri didn’t go previous the group stage. However Italy’s squad, disadvantaged of the Grande Torino stars, was clearly not its true self.
What would have occurred if the destiny was not so merciless?
