With the international break drawing to a close, Richard Hough, author of Verona Campione, the Miracle of 1985, reflects on Verona’s turbulent relationship with the national team.
What do Roberto Baggio, Daniele De Rossi, Antonio Candreva and Salvatore Bagni have in common?
Read on to find out!
The Azzurri in Verona
The Italian national team has something of chequered history in Verona – not so much on the pitch as off it! In fact, the Azzurri have only played at the Bentegodi three times and, with a two draws and a victory, they are unbeaten at Verona’s much maligned stadium.
The first time the national team played at the Bentegodi was on the 7 April 1984. Hellas had enjoyed two seasons of unprecedented success under the shrewd leadership of Osvaldo Bagnoli. They were on the cusp of a footballing miracle. The arrival of the national team for a friendly against Czechoslovakia was recognition of the city’s emergence as an exciting new force in the Italian football firmament.
Over 35,000 packed into the Bentegodi that Saturday afternoon to see World Cup winners Giuseppe Bergomi, Pietro Vierchowod, Bruno Conti, Marco Tardelli, Paolo Rossi and Alessandro Altobelli take on the unfancied Central Europeans. The hosts went one up when Inter’s Salvatore Bagni (who would go on to win the championship with Maradona at Napoli) bundled in a loose ball from an Altobelli cross.
Local fans were rewarded with the second half appearance of Pierino Fanna, a Juventus reject whose mercurial form had propelled Hellas to a fourth place finish in their first season back in Serie A.
Midway into the second half, Italy’s reserve goal keeper Giovanni Galli rushed out rather brashly to leave the goal at the mercy of Czech striker Stanislav Griga, who equalised for the visitors. With the Euros in France just around the corner, it was a disappointing draw for the Azzurri.
A Shameful Return to Verona for the Nazionale
By the time la Nazionale next came to Verona, the golden days of the Bagnoli era were drawing to a close. On 22 April 1989, the Bentegodi hosted an international friendly with Uruguay. The game was marred by a shameful display of what might best be described as Venetian nationalism (the Liga Veneta had made its electoral debut in the 1983 general election, when it garnered 4.3% of the vote in Veneto, resulting in two seats in the Italian Parliament), and the poor attendance (around 15,000) coupled with the booing that accompanied the Italian national anthem reflected the growing politicisation of the local fan base, while Nazi banners on display in the Curva Sud pointed at something altogether darker.
The match itself is remembered principally for a Roberto Baggio goal – an exquisite free-kick – his first goal for the Azzurri.
Biaggio was joined by Gianluca Vialli and Giuseppe Giannini in an impressive-looking Italy attack but, with just six minutes remaining, it was “Pato” Aguilera who equalised for the visitors.
Afterwards, a furious Antonio Matarrese, president of the Italian football association, vowed that the national team would never play at the Bentegodi again. In fact, if he had his way, Verona would have been stripped of its status as a host city for the forthcoming 1990 World Cup. Just four years after winning a historic Scudetto, Hellas would finish the 1988/89 season in a disappointing 14th place.
Verona’s golden era was over, and it would be 27 years before the national team returned to the Bentegodi.
The Bentegodi Says Farewell to an Italian Legend
On the eve of Euro 2016, following a city-wide charm offensive, Verona hosted Finland in a pre-tournament friendly. Around 28,000 local fans turned out and, this time, there would be no repeat of the scenes that marred the 1989 encounter.
Before kick-off, local legend Luca Toni was presented with a commemorative jersey to mark his retirement from the game. On the pitch, Antonio Conte’s men put on an impressive performance, despite their obvious limitations as a squad. With the formidable defence trio of Bonucci, Barzagli and Chiellini, it was goals that were the problem, which came from two unlikely sources (Candreva and De Rossi). In the end it was a comfortable 2-0 victory for the Azzuri at the Bentegodi, in a match I was fortunate enough to attend with my then eight year old son.
Fast forward nine years and a renovated Bentegodi is now in the running to be a host stadium for Euro 2032 (to be held jointly by Italy and Turkey). For a city that has something of chequered history when it comes to the national team, it would be a proud moment to follow the highs of ’85 and Italia 90.
So, what do Roberto Baggio, Daniele De Rossi, Antonio Candreva and Salvatore Bagni have in common?
They each scored for La Nazionale at Verona’s Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. The only four Italians ever to do so. Perhaps, one day, someone else will join that list.
Richard Hough is the author of Verona Campione, the Miracle of 1985.