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SPORTS> World Cup History
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Classic Stadiums (2): San Siro, Milan
(FIFAworldcup.com)
Updated: 2006-05-29 15:15 Location: Milan, Italy Inauguration: 19 September 1926 San Siro: Milan's other Scala
Befitting a venue of such grandeur, the San Siro has twice hosted football's most-renowned international showpiece. The FIFA World Cups of 1934 and 1990 both offered up historic encounters on what is one of the sport’s purest stages. The original structure was built to a typically English model, with four separate stands and room for only 35,000 fans. In the autumn of 1926 the inaugural match was held, a classic Milanese derby naturally, and to this day Inter have the bragging rights of winning that first contest 6-3. The national team paid their first visit on 20 February 1927, when the Squadra Azzurra played out a 2-2 draw with Czechoslovakia. However, the real baptism was to come seven years later during the FIFA World Cup in 1934. The San Siro hosted three matches as the planet's footballing powers congregated for a second time, beginning with a breathtaking 3-2 triumph for Switzerland over Holland. The quarter-final clash that followed was just as tight, but Germany emerged victorious against Sweden (2-1). A tale of two dynasties But it was on 3 June 1934 that the stadium earned its place in the hearts of the Italian tifosi. The atmosphere was truly stirring as Italy contested their tense semi-final with then outstanding Austria. Ultimately, an Enrico Guaita goal in the 10th minute proved enough to book the Squadra a place in the final, with the crowd collectively ignoring Austrian shouts for a clear-cut penalty. Star striker Giuseppe Meazza and his team-mates went on to win the title against Czechoslovakia (2-1 a.e.t.) in Rome, lifting the Jules Rimet trophy for the first time in their history. In a country where Christianity is strongly rooted and family tradition holds sway, the Milanese may as well be born wearing the colours of their parents’ favourite team. And as true as this is for the fans, the history of the clubs themselves has been moulded by unshakable familial loyalties. Cesare Maldini and his son Paolo have both left an indelible mark on AC Milan. On the other side of the fence, Massimo Moratti has spent the last few years trying to revive the glory days his father Angelo presided over in the sixties, when Inter won their only two European Cups (1964 and 1965) -- three less than AC Milan’s five. Though Moratti junior passed the Inter presidency on to Giacinto Facchetti in early 2004, he is still the owner of the club. In almost a century of rivalry, only one man has ever come close to bridging the chasm. Having devoted the best part of his career to Inter, 1938 FIFA World Cup winner Giuseppe Meazza pulled on the red and black shirt for one season as well. After his death, both teams agreed that the stadium they share should be renamed in his honour, and since 3 March 1980, it has been officially called the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. For the superstitious supporters though, it will always be the San Siro. West Germany’s second home West Germany essentially built their victorious 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign at the San Siro. With three Inter stars in their team (Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matth?us and Jürgen Klinsmann), the local crowd gave Franz Beckenbauer’s side notable vocal support. And of the six matches held in Milan, the Germans featured in all but one. It was here that the future world champions saw off Yugoslavia (4-1), the United Arab Emirates (5-1), old enemies Holland (2-1) and Czechoslovakia (1-0). The only to resist Germany’s powerful side was Colombia, who managed a creditable 1-1 draw. But it was during the opening match that the San Siro offered the world a truly remarkable spectacle. Reigning champions Argentina were to kick off the tournament against a Cameroon side many thought were there to merely make up the numbers. Sporting logic was turned on its ear though, as Fran?ois Omam-Biyik’s 67th-minute goal announced the true arrival of African football. The few supporters of the Indomitable Lions who made the long trip to Milan celebrated long into the night their team’s humbling of indelible legends such as Maradona, Burruchaga and Sensini. To this day, it remains the most widely remembered game in the history of the San Siro. Since then, hordes of tifosi have continued streaming to the stadium in support of either AC Milan or Inter every Sunday in the Serie A. It is a pilgrimage that has taken place since 1926 for the Rossoneri, their fierce city rivals joining them just over 50 years ago. For the most part, both teams have been constant fixtures in the upper reaches of the league table during this time, with AC Milan able to boast 16 championships to Inter/s 13. From the inaugural showdown in 1926 onwards, the San Siro has hosted nearly 250 Milan derbies, one of the most memorable recently being Inter's worst-ever defeat at the hands of their neighbours. On 21 May 2001, Marco Tardelli's Nerazzuri leaked goals to Shevchenko (2), Comandini (2), Giunti and Serginho to suffer a humiliating 6-0 that gave Milan bragging rights through at least a few matches. Did You Know? It took 120 builders just 13 and a half months to construct the San Siro, using one million kilograms of cement and 3,500 cubic metres of sand. The stadium has undergone five phases of modernisation to become the enormous structure it is today, the most notable phase taking place before the 1990 FIFA World Cup with the construction of a third ring and the eleven towers that support the roof. Two cranes, each 64 metres high, were needed to carry out the modernisation work. The San Siro is more than just a football stadium. It has also hosted a world boxing championship, Bob Marley's only ever concert in Italy, as well as a Bruce Springsteen show - and the south stand was once even the site of an open-air disco. Today, a museum celebrates the history of both Inter and AC Milan with waxworks of the two clubs’ greatest heroes. Hosted 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy quarter-final (West Germany 1:0 Czechoslovakia) 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy? second round (West Germany 2:1 Holland) 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy? group matches (4) 1934 FIFA World Cup Italy? semi-final (Italy 1:0 Austria) 1934 FIFA World Cup Italy? quarter-final (Germany 2:1 Sweden) 1934 FIFA World Cup Italy? group match (Switzerland 3:2 Holland European Championship 1980 |
