Italy vs England football: Comparing their football achievements

Italy vs England football: Comparing their football achievements

Kevin Omuya
updated at January 21, 2024 at 5:03 PM
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England
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Italy
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P. Maldini
-DItaly logo
S. Gerrard
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Each of these footballing superpowers has a long history of success in the international arena; the Italy vs England football match has been one of the eye-catching rivalries in modern football history. Through a detailed examination of their football accomplishments, we can trace the narratives of these two footballing nations and the ups and downs that have shaped them.

Italy Vs England Football
Italy (L) and England badge on their first team home shirts ahead of the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium on July 8, 2021, in Manchester, United Kingdom. Photo: Visionhaus
Source: Getty Images

Regarding football, two countries with long histories of success are Italy and England. Bear in mind that a lot may have changed and progressed since then. This article will give you the rundown of what they accomplished on the football field:

Italy Vs England football history

In Rome on May 13, 1933, the first formal summit occurred between the two countries. The match was won by Italy, 1-0.

Both teams met in the quarterfinals on June 31, 1934, at the World Cup hosted by Italy. After extra time, the Azzuris prevailed with a score of 1-0 and won the tournament.

The 1990 FIFA World Cup semifinals occurred in Italy, where the two teams met. After regulation and overtime, the score remained tied, and Italy prevailed 4-3 on penalties and finished in second place in the tournament.

In Ukraine, the two teams played in the UEFA Euro 2012 quarterfinals. Italy prevailed 4-2 in the penalty shootout after the match ended 0-0 in extra time. Spain defeated them in the final.

Italy took on England in the UEFA Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021. The tournament had to be rescheduled from 2020 to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After regulation and overtime ended in a draw, the Azzuris prevailed 3-2 on penalties to win their second consecutive European Championship.

World title comparison

Italy Vs England Football Teams
Fabio Grosso (c) of Italy celebrates with the World Cup trophy after the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match against France on July 9, 2006, in Berlin, Germany. Photo: Andreas Rentz
Source: Getty Images

The most important tournaments for senior national soccer teams were those in which Italy won six titles, compared to one for England. They also hold a four-goal lead over England in FIFA World Cups.

England won the Olympic soccer tournament by a score of 3–1, surpassing Italy in gold medals. With 18 victories to Italy's 11, England emerged victorious at the FIFA youth national teams level.

Italy

Won the FIFA World Cup four times (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006).

Won the UEFA European Championship twice (1968 and 2020).

Won two Olympic gold medals in football (1936 and 1938).

Won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1933.

England

Won the FIFA World Cup once, in 1966.

Had not won the UEFA European Championship.

Won the Olympic football tournament in 1900 and 1908 when the competition was open to club and national teams.

Italy Vs England football records

Italy Vs England Football
Jude Bellingham (10) of England is challenged by Bryan Cristante (16) of Italy during the UEFA EURO 2024 European match on October 17, 2023, in London, England. Photo: Eddie Keogh
Source: Getty Images

Here are a few interesting facts and figures from the head-to-head football matches between England and Italy. Note that these records may have been updated since then, so it is recommended to refer to the most recent statistics for the most up-to-date information:

Overall Record

Matches Played: 27 games.

Italy Wins: 10 wins.

England Wins: 8 wins.

Draws: 9 games.

Goalscoring Records

  • When Italy defeated England 4-0 in 1948, it was the highest-scoring match in their history.
  • Italy and England have had a reasonably even record in their head-to-head matches, with wins for both teams.
  • In the past, Italy has triumphed over England in penalty shootouts, most notably in the World Cup of 1990 and the Euro quarterfinals of 2012.
  • Information may have changed since my last update, so please use these records cautiously. If you want up-to-date information on football records and statistics, you should always look at the most recent sources.

Italy Vs England legends

Italy Vs England Legends
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand tackles AC Milan's Kaka (r). Photo: John Walton
Source: Getty Images

Those who have made an indelible mark on football and their national teams are often considered sports legends. Throughout their storied histories, both Italy and England have produced a significant number of football greats. The following are the names of some famous Italian and English players:

Italy

  1. Paolo Maldini: Regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Maldini spent his entire club career with AC Milan. He represented the Azzuris in multiple World Cups and European Championships.
  2. Franco Baresi: Another iconic Italian defender, Baresi played alongside Paolo Maldini at AC Milan. He was known for his leadership on the field and played a crucial role in Italy's success.
  3. Alessandro Del Piero: An elegant forward, Del Piero is one of Italy's all-time leading goal scorers. He had a successful career with Juventus and was part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad.
  4. Gianluigi Buffon: One of the greatest goalkeepers in football history, Buffon has had an illustrious career with Juventus and the Italian national team. He holds the record for the most caps by an Italian player.
  5. Roberto Baggio: A talented forward, Baggio is known for his skill, creativity, and performances in multiple World Cups. He was crucial in Azzurris' journey to the 1994 World Cup final.

England

  1. Bobby Charlton: A legendary midfielder, Charlton was a key figure in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team. He played for Manchester United and was known for his goalscoring prowess.
  2. Bobby Moore: The captain of the 1966 World Cup-winning England team, Moore is regarded as one of the greatest defenders in English football history.
  3. Gary Lineker: A prolific goal scorer, Lineker won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup and played a crucial role for England in several major tournaments.
  4. Sir Stanley Matthews: A pioneer of English football, Matthews was one of the first footballers to be knighted. He played for Stoke City and Blackpool and had a career that spanned several decades.
  5. Steven Gerrard: A dynamic midfielder, Gerrard captained England and had a highly successful career with Liverpool. He was known for his leadership and ability to influence matches.

Italy Vs England football leagues

Italy Vs England Football Leagues
Inter Milan's Italian defender Federico Dimarco (R) vies with Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva during the UEFA Champions League final on June 10, 2023. Photo: Paul Ellis
Source: Getty Images

Italy and England have highly competitive and popular football leagues that are among the best in the world. Here is an overview of the top football leagues in each country:

Italian Serie A

  • Serie A is the top professional football league in Italy.
  • Clubs like Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, AS Roma, and Napoli are historically among the strongest teams.

English Premier League

  • The Premier League is the top-tier football league in England and one of the most popular and widely watched leagues globally.
  • Clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City have been dominant forces in the league.
  • The Premier League has a massive global fan base and attracts top talent worldwide.

Final word

Italy vs England football matches are like a thread in the vast fabric of international football; the stories of the two teams are interwoven with the highs and lows of the sacred fields. The unique footballing identities of Italy and England have inspired and motivated fans for decades.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.