In a few hours, Italy will be swept by football fever again, when the Euro 2020 tournament will kick off in Rome. We have decided to tell you a story from the past, when a few months before the USA 1994 World Cup, the Italian national team was defeated in a friendly match against a fourth division team. The historic 2-1 in the Coverciano Federal Training Centre allowed Pontedera to beat Arrigo Sacchi's Italy and brought Francesco D'Arrigo's men fifteen minutes of global fame. Many know how things went for Italy in the World Cup, with the heartbreaking penalties at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena when a miss by Roberto Baggio handed the fourth cup to one of the worst Brazil squads of all time. Not many know what happened to the players that had stunned the world. Many had a great career, almost reaching the national team. After retirement, several of them became successful coaches or assistant coaches to famous managers such as Spalletti or Simone Inzaghi. What is even less known is how the famous upset could have had an even more incredible follow-up. Pontedera owner invited the World Champions of Brazil to play a "super-final" in the Valdera capital to settle scores once and for all. Brazil liked the idea but then changed their mind later. Many think that that defeat helped Italy to become more resilient, while others think it was just a bad day from a squad of champions that weren't able to switch gears when facing an aggressive, physical opposition. One thing is sure: no one in Pontedera will ever forget the "miracle in Coverciano". Do you have memories from past international football tournaments? Let us know by joining the conversation on our social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN)
https://ilnobilecalcio.it/2020/02/18/quella-volta-che-la-nazionale-perse-contro-il-pontedera/
https://iltirreno.gelocal.it/pontedera/sport/2019/04/02/news/quando-il-pontedera-batte-l-italia-di-sacchi-e-tutti-volevano-mandarlo-al-mondiale-1.30154707
https://www.tuttoc.com/altre-news/6-aprile-1994-quando-il-pontedera-sconfisse-l-italia-63505
https://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/sport/18_ottobre_08/clamoroso-coverciano-quando-pontedera-batte-l-italia-2a567f8e-cad5-11e8-8ff3-092f2dbc882c.shtml
https://gianlucadimarzio.com/it/6-aprile-1994-Italia-Pontedera-1-2-racconto
https://calciatoribrutti.com/it/quella-volta-che-il-pontedera-batte-la-nazionale-italiana-video
https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/pontedera-italia-2-1-limpresa-piu-incredibile-del-calcio/lqm4vyozwc4e1kn8y13r9ybhp
http://www.calcioromantico.com/una-giornata-particolare/6-aprile-1994-pontedera-batte-italia-2-1/
http://www.delinquentidelpallone.it/6-aprile-1994-pontedera-italia-2-1/
https://2017.gonews.it/2015/04/13/pontedera-italia-2-1-giulio-drago-racconta-di-quando-batte-la-nazionale/
https://www.ultimouomo.com/italia-pontedera-sconfitta-amichevole/
https://www.radiobruno.it/6-aprile-esattamente-27-anni-fa-il-pontedera-batteva-la-nazionale-di-sacchi/
https://www.calciofere.it/2021/04/24/la-promozione-della-ternana-vista-dal-preparatore-atletico-bartali/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Title: A Slave to Nothing (Instrumental)
Author: Pipe Choir
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Links: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-a-slave-to-nothing-instrumental
http://www.pipechoir.com/