Italy - MEXICO 1970

Italy reached the 1970 World Cup final with a team built on discipline and resilience. Coached by Ferruccio Valcareggi, the squad blended experience and tactical intelligence. Key players included Giacinto Facchetti, Gigi Riva, Sandro Mazzola, and Dino Zoff. They topped their group and defeated Mexico 4–1 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final, they won a legendary 4–3 match against West Germany after extra time. It was one of the most iconic games in World Cup history. Italy fell 4–1 to Brazil in the final but earned global respect. That team laid the foundation for Italy’s modern football identity.