Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Argentine/Italian war re-ignited

Twelve years after Italy's last match against Argentina, the two predominantly Roman Catholic and football-crazy nations are renewing their storied rivalry in a friendly game that will be played under the auspices of Pope Francis.

After months of talks, the Italian and Argentinian federations managed to set up Wednesday's encounter in Rome that will be dedicated to the pope - a football fan who comes from Argentina and is the son of Italian immigrants.

Italy's last match with Argentina was also a friendly in Rome, in 2001, which
Argentina won 2-1. Before that, Diego Maradona's Argentina knocked hosts Italy out of the 1990 World Cup on penalties in a memorable semi-final in Naples.

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