Overview

For nearly a century, the Italian national football team has embodied a unique fusion of tactical intelligence, emotional intensity, and dramatic resilience. Azzurri: Italy's Defensive Art and Dramatic Triumphs traces the evolution of Italy's footballing identity from its early pre-war foundations through the tactical revolutions, iconic victories, and unforgettable heartbreaks that shaped the nation's story on the world stage. From Vittorio Pozzo's pioneering sides of the 1930s to the disciplined genius of Enzo Bearzot's 1982 champions, from Marcello Lippi's Berlin heroes to Roberto Mancini's modern revival, this book offers a definitive account of how the Azzurri forged one of international football's richest and most compelling legacies. Blending historical depth with vivid narrative detail, the book explores how Italy's reputation for defensive mastery and tactical sophistication developed over decades, becoming both a shield and a symbol in the country's pursuit of sporting glory. It examines the complex interplay between strategy and culture, revealing how the anxieties, ambitions, and passions of the Italian people shaped their team's identity. At its heart, this is a story of contradiction and transformation-of a nation that defends with artistry, attacks with occasional brilliance, and competes with a spirit that oscillates between suffering and ecstasy. With portraits of Italy's greatest players, analyses of landmark matches, and a panoramic view of the tactical evolutions that influenced world football, Azzurri provides an authoritative and immersive account of a national team that remains endlessly fascinating. It is a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the enduring magnetism of Italian football.

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9781970852202

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