This is the 157th episode of my podcast with Mr. Paul Whittle of https://the1888letter.com/, @1888letter.
For this episode, we interview Mr. Davey Naylor of https://englandstats.com/ as we discuss the
three Italy vs. England matches in the year 1997.
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Italy and England’s
three matches in the year 1997
As the decade of the 1990s
was at its last stretch, Italy and England had only met once during the decade at
International level. This was the Third-Place match at Italia ’90 with the
Italians winning (2-1). Despite meeting one another at European club levels,
they had not arranged friendlies between one another nor paired in
International competitions.
At this point Serie A was the
most prestigious League in Europe, with the English Premier League gathering
pace but still not at the same level.
Transfers between clubs from
respective nations was somewhat minimal as well. There were a handful of top
English players who had joined the Serie A during this decade (most notably
Gascoigne, Platt, Walker, Ince) with mixed success, while the only Italian
traveling in the opposite direction was Andrea Silenzi (joining Nottingham
Forest in 1995).
All this would change in 1996
with the implementation of the Bosman Ruling. In a post-Euro 1996, hosted by
England, Italian players were further exposed to the English public and vice
versa. Transfers in greater numbers were now possible as foreign player
restrictions had eased and money was available for the Premier League sides. In
the summer of 1996, Fabrizio Ravanelli (Juventus) and Roberto Di Matteo (Lazio)
would be the first two active Italian Internationals who joined the Premier
League joining Middlesbrough and Chelsea respectively.
They would be the first of
many for the upcoming decades.
Former Dutch star Ruud
Gullit’s appointment as Player-Manager at Chelsea was crucial as he would
welcome many Serie A based players to London. In addition to Di Matteo, he had
signed Gianluca Vialli (though no longer in the National Team set-up).
Italy and England were also
paired in a World Cup qualifying group for the 1998 World Cup in France.
In this calendar year 1997,
the National Teams would meet one another on three occasions, with each
different result yielding different contexts and narrative.
England were managed by Glenn Hoddle, historically a much
younger custodian of the post. He had been appointed at the end of the 1996
Euros replacing Terry Venables. He was seen as an enthusiastic and progressive
Manager open to the tactics of the continent.
His spell as a player at French side Monaco, under Arsene Wenger,
had greatly influenced him.
He would introduce many young players into the side, such as
David Beckham. The Manchester United midfielder had been under the spotlight
ever since scoring from halfway line for his club vs. Wimbledon in the opening
match of the season (1996/97).
Hoddle’s biggest problem continued to be the controversial Paul
Gascoigne. Despite his undeniable talents, his fitness (or lack thereof) and
his off-field problems would remain a constant worry.
Hoddle could still rely on Paul Ince, based with in Italy with
Internazionale Milano (1995 thru 1997), as well as Captain and reliable
goalscorer Alan Shearer.
In Italy there had been an upheaval at Federation level that
would affect the National Team. Italy Manager Arrigo Sacchi was already on thin
ice after a disappointing 1996 Euros performance. When his ‘protector’ Antonio
Matarrese was ousted as President of the Italian Federation, it seemed just a
matter of time that Sacchi would follow.
Sacchi resigned on December 2nd, 1996, and would
shortly rejoin his former side AC Milan.
The new FIGC President Luciano Nizzola appointed Cesare Maldini
(father of captain Paolo) as National Team Manager on December 15, 1996.
His appointment was largely welcomed by the Italian Press and
Public as Sacchi was very unpopular at this stage.
Ahead of the first match vs. England in February, Cesare Maldini
was in charge of a friendly match vs. Northern Ireland on January 22nd,
1997 (2-0) win, to get a measure of his squad.
For this first encounter of the year between the Nations at
Wembley on February 12th, 1997, Maldini installed a 5-3-2 formation.
Alessandro Costacurta was tasked with the libero role, with Ciro
Ferrara and Fabio Cannavaro just ahead him in central defense positions. On the
flanks, Angelo Di Livio was on the right and Maldini on the left.
Di Matteo, Albertini and Dino Baggio occupied the midfield with
Casiraghi and Zola upfront.
Gianfranco Zola, at odds with Carlo Ancelotti at Parma, had
followed Di Matteo and Ravanelli and joined the English Premier League a few
months after them. Gullit had convinced him to join Chelsea (joining up with
compatriots Di Matteo and Vialli). He had taken the Serie A by storm and
already become one of the greatest foreign player successes.
For the English, Hoddle had a number of injury problems.
Starting goalkeeper David Seaman was out with a sore knee. In addition, Tony
Adams, Gareth Southgate and Paul Gascoigne were also unavailable.
In a surprise move, Hoddle decided to start with Southampton’s
Matt Le Tissier.
Le Tissier’s brother had
declared his selection on the morning of the match at Guernesey Radio Station,
which defeated the element of surprise.
In this match, Italy took the
lead in the 19th minute. Costacurta’s long cross was controlled by
Zola and he shot from a narrow angle on the right past Walker.
Italy controlled the match
and held on to the win (1-0).
As far as Walker, he was
blamed for his positioning for the goal. It later turned out that he was hiding
an injury that he concealed for weeks. He had taken injections of cortisone and
painkiller into an inflamed left shoulder.
Dino Baggio was able to
control McManaman, while Shearer was powerless against his marker Cannavaro.
In midfield, Albertini was
for many the best player on the field with his recuperation and fine
distribution.
This was England’s first ever
defeat at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier.
Afterwards, Hoddle did not
accept that Italy were a better side than his team and felt it had been a tight
match. He also felt things would have been different had a header by Le Tissier
gone in.
This turned out to be Matthew
Le Tissier’s last match for England. His selection was perceived to be a poker
move by Hoddle, but this decision was criticized as he was perceived too slow.
As far as Italy, at this
point Cesare Maldini was seen as the savior of Italy. He was not as tactically
constrained as his predecessor Sacchi. There was a general feeling that there
was a better atmosphere at his more relaxed training sessions that garnered
better performances.
,%20February%2014-19,%201997.jpg) |
Photo From: Guerin Sportivo,
No 7 (1133), February 14-19, 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
 |
Photo From: France Football,
Issue 2654, February 18, 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
_965x926.jpg) |
Photo From: Goal, Issue 25, October 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) Note: To be verified |
_1875x1049.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 98, March 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
_1440x1724.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 99, April 1997
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1)
_2417x2481.jpg) |
Photo From: World Soccer, April 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
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Photo From: Football Italia, Volume 3, Issue 2, No 19, March 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
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Photo From: Football Italia, Volume 3, Issue 2, No 19, March 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
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Photo From: Football Italia, Volume 3, Issue 2, No 19, March 1997
|
(February 12, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, England 0-Italy 1) |
The sides would face one
another less than four months later, not as the return fixture of the World Cup
qualifiers, but in France as part of the 1997 ‘Le Tournoi’.
This was a Tournament
featuring hosts France, Brazil, Italy and England as a form of dress rehearsal
ahead of the World Cup, the following year in France.
Cesare Maldini was opposed to
participation in this end of season Tournament and would occasionally remind that he had ‘inherited’ this from the previous regime.
He would have preferred
that his players would rest instead of facing high quality opposition, as the Italian Serie A League
season had finished the weekend before.
Given Maldini’s
insistence, the Italians had even contemplated paying a heavy fine to forego
participation, but in the end were convinced to stay.
A cautious Maldini
played down expectations given his players’ fatigue. In addition, he questioned
the wisdom of facing England three times in the same calendar year.
England and
Hoddle were more enthusiastic to participate, despite reservations from some
quarters (most notably Roy Evans and Sir Alex Ferguson, respectively Managers
of Liverpool and Manchester United). Hoddle would have to forego with the
services of the Liverpool duo of Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler (both with scheduled
surgeries, McManaman for his knee and Fowler for his nasal problems).
Days earlier,
England had defeated Poland in a World Cup Qualifier, and Hoddle decided to
rest as many as five starters from that match. This included England Captain
Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne.
Starting
goalkeeper David Seaman was also rested, which gave an opportunity to Tim
Flowers.
Sol Campbell
and Graeme Le Saux were similarly rested, with Keown and Stuart Pearce filling
in.
Beckham had
played as a wingback vs. Poland, against Italy, Hoddle moved him to the middle
of the pitch.
As Gascoigne and David Batty
were rested, Manchester United’s young midfielder
Paul Scholes was tested. He repaid Hoddle’s
faith with a superb performance consisting of a goal and an assist. He set up
Ian Wright (filling in for Shearer) with a long cross (26th minute)
and Wright returned the favor by setting up Scholes who struck home with a
volley (60th minute).
The English were in better form with Ince
having an excellent match. Hoddle
had insisted that they were taking ‘Le Tournoi’ seriously and wanted to win.
Predictably, given Cesare Maldini’s warnings, the Italians were
exhausted. Antonio Bennarivo was the lone Italian to maintain standards.
Cesare Maldini pointed out his side’s physical inferiority
against a much fitter English squad.
As early as the 17th minute, Roberto Di Matteo
was forced off injured and replaced by Fuser. In the second half, Maini and
Nesta went on to replace the clearly tired Juventus pair of Di Livio and
Ferrara, without much impact just like the rest of their teammates.
The takeaway from the Italians was very much the need for rest
and proper preparation.
England would be the surprising victors of this Tournament.
Hoddle employed a 3-5-2 formation with Gareth Southgate acting as deep lying
sweeper.
Hoddle felt with three at the back, there were more options in
playing out of defense with five midfielders ahead of them to find.
England’s win may have given them the psychological edge they
needed ahead of their qualifier in October.
,%20June%206-12,%201997a.jpg) |
Photo From: Guerin Sportivo,
No 23 (1149), June 6-12, 1997
|
(June 4, 1997, Le Tournoi, England 2-Italy 0) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: France Football,
Issue 2669 bis, June 6, 1997
|
(Ian Wright, June 4, 1997, Le Tournoi, England 2-Italy 0) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: Shoot, June 21,
1997
|
(Teddy Sheringham and Ian Wright, June 4, 1997, Le Tournoi,
England 2-Italy 0) |
%201.jpg) |
Photo From: World Soccer,
August 1997
|
(Paul Scholes, June 4, 1997, Le Tournoi, England 2-Italy 0) |
Ahead of the crucial World
Cup Qualifier in Italy in October, England had to contend with the long-term
injury to Alan Shearer.
On July 26, 1997, Alan
Shearer sustained an ankle injury that ruled him out for the rest of the year.
He would return to action in January 1998.
After the match in February,
Italy’s automatic chances appeared greater. However, these were the only points
dropped by England and they would win all their other matches against their
opponents in the Group (except Italy).
Italy’s scoreless tied
matches on April 2nd, 1997, at Poland and another on September 10th,
1997, at Georgia would be Italy’s undoing, despite an undefeated qualification
campaign and only one goal conceded.
They were now the team under the
greater pressure and all England had to do was to hold onto a tie to edge ahead
by just one point.
Hoddle could count on his
number one David Seaman and Paul Gascoigne for the first time in these matches
vs. Italy this year.
Tony Adams was also back in
the squad and in defense for the first time in nearly a year.
Ian Wright would fill in for
Shearer upfront and would nearly win the match for the English near the end.
Cesare Maldini opted for a
4-4-2 formation that surprised Hoddle. Afterwards, the England Manager felt
this tactic played into their hands.
Cesare Maldini chose to field
Inzaghi upfront, despite the new Juventus striker having a fever of 40 degrees
Celsius. He was supported with Vieri and Zola, but this did not work, nor did
the entries of Del Piero and Chiesa in the second half.
Before the match, Cesare
Maldini expressed doubt that England could come to Rome and play for a tie as
this was not in their nature. He would be proven wrong as England had come for
a tie and battled to earn it and qualify automatically.
Every time Italy attacked,
they had to contend with 5-6 English players in defense.
Italy were further hampered
when Di Livio was sent off after a foul on Campbell.
Ince had an excellent match
and played with his head bandaged (6 points of suture) after a collision with
Albertini. Hoddle stated that Ince had battled like a Lion.
Gascoigne felt England had
beaten Italy at their own game in earning a tie.
The most significant action
of the match was near the end, Ian Wright could have given England the victory
in injury time, but his attempt from a narrow angle on the left struck the post
(after he had dribbled around Peruzzi). In the ensuing action, Vieri had a
header that went wide.
Hoddle stated that after the
match in February, everyone doubted England’s chances to qualify as group
winners, but he never doubted his squad’s ability.
As for Cesare Maldini, he
lamented the absences of the suspended Roberto Di Matteo and the injured
Ferrara, as well as the 32nd minute injury of his son Paolo during
the match.
He praised his team for
battling throughout the match. He also felt there was a sense of injustice as
Italy had only conceded one goal during the campaign and despite winning 4 out
of 6 points vs England, they still had finished second in the group.
Cesare Maldini had high
praise for his opponents. He stated that England have become a great side with a
great physical presence in midfield with Ince and Batty, with Beckham and
Sheringham as technically gifted players. He described this a great mix of
physical strength with technique.
Italy would be paired against
Russia in the Play-offs and would earn their ticket for France that way.
England played with a
different goalkeeper in each match. Graeme Le Saux, David Beckham, Paul Ince
and Ian Wright were the only English players to take part in all three matches.
For the Italians: Angelo
Peruzzi, Alessandro Costacurta, Fabio Cannavaro, Angelo Di Livio, Demetrio Albertini, Dino Baggio and Gianfranco Zola were present in all
three encounters.
As the World Cup arrived,
some of the protagonists of these matches would be missing, such as Zola,
Peruzzi (late injury), Ian Wright and most notably Paul Gascoigne (in dramatic
and somewhat violent fashion).
The year had started better
for Italy but ended better for England. Contact and transfers between the
Nations would increase into the next decade.
The likes of Casiraghi and
Dino Baggio would find their way to England in the coming years.
These three matches in a
nostalgic time in football terms for the respective Nations and their Leagues.
They remain memorable for the
context as well as the players on display.
,%20October%2015-23,%201997.jpg) |
Photo From: Guerin Sportivo,
No 42 (1167), October 15-23, 1997
|
(October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
,%20October%2015-23,%201997a.jpg) |
Photo From: Guerin Sportivo,
No 42 (1167), October 15-23, 1997 (October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
,%20October%2015-23,%201997a.jpg) |
Photo From: Guerin Sportivo,
No 42 (1167), October 15-23, 1997 (October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
 |
Photo From: France Football,
Issue 2688, October 14, 1997
|
(October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
_2486x3439.jpg) |
Photo From: World Soccer,
December 1997
|
(Paul Gascoigne, October 11,
1997, World Cup Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
_1544x1581.jpg) |
Photo From: World Soccer,
December 1997
|
(Paul Gascoigne, October 11,
1997, World Cup Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
_1669x2271.jpg) |
Photo From: World Soccer,
December 1997
|
(Ian Wright and Paul
Gascoigne, October 11, 1997, World Cup Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
 |
Photo From: Football Italia, Volume 3, Issue 10, No 27, November
1997
|
(October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
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Photo From: Football Italia, Volume 3, Issue 10, No 27, November
1997
|
(October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
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Photo From: Football Italia, Volume 3, Issue 10, No 27, November
1997
|
(October 11, 1997, World Cup
Qualifier, Italy 0-England 0) |
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