The essence of football packed into 120 minutes! Tomorrow, Wednesday 17 June, will be the 50th anniversary of Italy vs. Germany in the semi-final of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a match known as “The Game of the Century”. It was a footballing clash, held in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which still remains etched in the memory of millions of Italians and which represents one of the most beautiful pages of Italian history.

“Italy versus Germany,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, “has rightfully entered the world of football legend and is an integral part of our country’s culture. Beyond the emotions linked to the on-pitch result, “The Game of the Century” represents the sporting metaphor of the unpredictability, tenacity and talent that Italians are capable of showing. So, remembering that game and honouring those legends is a tribute to the whole of Italy.”

From tomorrow onwards, the celebrations will begin on the FIGC’s website and social media profiles, with dedicated graphics recalling the iconography of the time and a campaign centred on the hashtag #LaPartitaDelSecolo, aimed at collating all the feelings of those who followed that historic match whilst glued to the TV, as well as those who have experienced it through their loved ones’ memories. During the day, the FIGC will release digital content: from the memory of some of those players who took to the pitch in Mexico, to the tale of that match and its impact on an entire nation, and even a video made by Gianfelice Facchetti, son of Azzurri captain Giacinto. There are several other initiatives planned, which will see the involvement of illustrious personalities from the world of sport and entertainment, all of whom will be celebrating ‘The Game of the Century’.

On Sunday 21 June at 12:30 CEST, a delegation led by FIGC President Gabriele Gravina will be hosted by the Mexican Ambassador in Rome, Carlos Garcia de Alba, in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. The event will be attended by three former Italian greats, Gianni Rivera, Roberto Boninsegna and Giancarlo De Sisti, all of whom will bring their own memories from the World Cup. The FIGC’s President will also hand the protagonists of that historic match a personalised, commemorative shirt.

The celebrations for the Azzurri’s 110th anniversary, which began on 15 May on the anniversary of its first-ever match against France in 1910, will continue over the coming months as we remember other unforgettable matches from the past that have accompanied the history of our country and several generations of Italians, all of whom have been united by a passion for the Azzurri.

ITALY 4-3 GERMANY

It wasn’t any old game, it was the Game of the Century. It wasn’t just a sporting event, but a legendary night that went down in the history of Italian society and the 20th century. Italy 4-3 Germany, played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 17 June 1970, is perhaps the most famous, most celebrated and most talked about game in the entire history of football. Not just in Italy, but in all four corners of the world.

A few days after the Azzurri’s extra-time win in front of 110,000 ecstatic spectators, some decided to make a plaque to commemorate the ‘Partido del siglo’. How did it unfold? It began with Italy taking the lead through Boninsegna with just eight minutes on the clock, then Schnellinger’s equaliser at the other end of the game as time was about to run out. But it was in extra time that the game went down in history: Germany pulled ahead through Müller, then the Azzurri levelled through Burgnich before re-establishing their lead with an unforgettable effort from Gigi Riva. Another equaliser by Germany, once again by Müller, but one minute later, with just ten minutes left on the referee’s stopwatch out of the 120 minutes to be played, Gianni Rivera slotted home with his right to take Italy through to the World Cup final and secure that match a spot in the fondest memories of football fans across the globe.

A day so beautiful and unforgettable that Italy vs. Germany transcended the boundaries of the game: it was retold in books, in theatres, on TV, and even had a film named after it. It was a game that sparked a passion for sport in millions around the world. Ferruccio Valcareggi’s Italy, the reigning champions of Europe, brought a reason to celebrate to an entire population, with tens of thousands of Italians flooding to their town squares late into the night (the match having kicked off at midnight in Italian time), to celebrate a victory over their German rivals. The streets hadn’t seen a celebration of that scale since the end of the Second World War. Car horns being honked, flags being waved and songs being sung. Italy vs. Germany went down in history right away. And today, 50 years on, it still remains un unmatchable legend.

Click here to download the poster of Italy vs. Germany.