Italians love to play and watch sport and there is nothing more exciting to them than the game of soccer, or football as they call the game. Here is a little about soccer in Italy.
History of Soccer in Italy
As the game of soccer is originally British, it is no wonder that it was the Brits who introduced the game to the Italians. The sport was first played towards the end of the nineteenth century and in 1898, the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio was formed. However, it was not until the time of Mussolini’s rule in the 1930s that Italy participated in the sport on an international level.
The Team Kit
Traditionally national football teams usually wear a kit that is representative of their country’s flag but this I not the case for the Italians. Although their flag is red, white and green, their team kit is blue and white with the Italian flag as a small emblem on the shirt.
Series A
The top 20 soccer teams in Italy are part of Series A. This is the top professional soccer league in Italy. Currently, the most dominant team within Series A is Juventus from Turin. They have a long-standing rivalry with second position team Inter Milan.
Italian Soccer Success
Historically, the Italian soccer team has continuously ranked highly in comparison to other national teams from across the globe and they have won many accolades. They have won the World Cup in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. These four wins mean that Italy is the second most successful country in the history of the World Cup, with Brazil claiming the top spot.
Italian Soccer Today
Soccer continues to be the most popular sport in Italy with over four million people playing this game each year. Italians consider this sport as part of their culture and history and are extremely patriotic when their team plays. Although many sports are played in Italy, soccer is by far the most popular. If you want to watch the Italians soccer skills on their pitch, watch out for one of their televised matches that are aired around the world.
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