Giuseppe Meazza

Giuseppe Meazza, considered the greatest of all time Italian player was much more than a football genius. Indeed, this gifted, capable of all the excesses in his private life, symbolized the longstanding social success in Italy. Coming from a modest background, entered Meazza football legend after winning twice world champion, before giving his name to the prestigious stadium in Milan."Having him in your team meant a match winning 1-0 start. Was the attacker born excellence. Was reading the game, understood the situation and did run to attack the entire game with a conception always based technique" analyzed his coach in the Nazionale Vittorio Pozzo.A native of Milan's Porta Vittoria neighborhood, the small Meazza (in all senses of the word, with its 1,69 m height) was abandoned to its fate after the death of his father in the front, in 1917. Already from the 7 years, gave vent to his passion for football in the grounds of improvised game of the Milanese suburbs, where he learned to master a ball made of rags. It started to get serious at age 12 when he made his debut in a field of truth with fellow FC Gloria.

After several tifosi notice him, which was recommended to AC Milan, was however rejected by the Rossoneri big, you saw it too weak. Thus was Fulvio Bernardini, a former player of Inter's great rival, who had a hunch the young Meazza, then 14 years. The influential Bernardini wasted no time when submitting it to the Hungarian coach Arpad Weisz. For three seasons, the young prodigy would be formed through the ranks at Inter Milan, then renamed Ambrosiana-Inter. Three years later, celebrated his debut with the first team two goals thrusting the Milanese Unione Sportiva. His career was launched.Provocative and greatFrom being an unknown to the general public, in a time when communication was truly in its infancy, it took less than a season to become the darling of all Italy. Based on an exceptional technique, enjoyed trying, and generally getting more daring plays. He refused to make it as easy, and had a weakness for provocation. Thus, he was able to cross the entire field with the ball glued to his feet and get rid of his marker before stopping his career in front of the goalie, provoke and tempt you to leave; for then beat him with a last feint and enter the goal with the ball. That is, the type of move that unleashed delirium throughout the stadium ... and the wrath of his opponents!But Meazza also highlighted by an innate sense of intuition, for their releases disconcerting lack the technical folha dry, and his pinpoint passes. To make matters worse, despite their small stature, used in numerous duels imposed by high, putting many headed goals thanks to a magical gift to mark time in the auction.In his first two seasons as a starter, was aimed respectively 33 and 31 goals, including six goals to Venice on May 12, 1929 (10-2) and a pair of "hands" of goals. Vittorio Pozzo, the uncompromising Azzurri coach was fascinated with Meazza and made her international debut as a 19-year, the February 9, 1930 in Rome, against Switzerland. "The Balilla" immediately returned the ball, scoring his first double in the shirt of Italy (4-2). Three months later, he signed his first masterpiece in Budapest, in the final of the Central European International Cup in the field of large selection of Hungary. La Nazionale gave an authentic recital (0-5) with three goals Meazza tip. Never a player under 20 years had carried a similar beginning, with 10 goals in 7 caps.

The time of the coronationWhen Italy hosted the World Cup in 1934, Giuseppe Meazza was 24 and added twenty international matches. Due to the richness of his staff, he moved Pozzo shaft attack on the right side, where his dribbling unbalancing the defense while his colleagues were delighted with his assists. Ignoring the pressure that weighed on the team, as Italy's victory was imperative for the regime of Benito Mussolini, Meazza fronted championship with total relaxation. Participated in all meetings and played a decisive role in each.In the first game, closed the scoring against United States (7-1). In the quarter-final against Spain, achieved the goal of classification (1-0) in the playoff game. In the semifinal against Austria (1-0), both served the sorting Enrique Guaita. Finally, in the final against Czechoslovakia, Meazza was injured quickly, but gritted his teeth and kept playing. Already in overtime, Karel Petru, the Czechoslovak coach saw him very weak, did loosen the marking on it. It was a serious tactical mistake because Meazza reappeared at the origin of the goal that won the title, marked by Angelo Schiavio (2-1).Five months later, Italy was to play "Battle of Highbury" to "formalize" his title against an England still contesting the World Cup. The Italians, suffocated by an aggressive England team embedded three goals in the first 12 minutes, and were reduced to ten players after injury Luis Monti. For 80 minutes, would do wonders Meazza, scoring two goals and earning the respect of the English fans. But his most admirable deed signed on May 17, 1936 in Rome, in a friendly against Austria (2-2). After receiving a long ball, I saw two opposing defenses they were reaching for each side. At the last moment, stopped the ball with the tip of the sole and slowed the race. The defenders, who were released, collided just ahead of him. So, I just had to get past the keeper with his classic hint to get shot, as he often did, with the ball in the net. An unimaginable goal 70 years later, not even a game console.A white gardenia in her earAs captain of the Nazionale had to defend his title in France 1938, Giuseppe Meazza had not lost any of its effectiveness, as evidenced by their 28 goals scored in 30 games during the 1938 season. Already in the championship, however, was going to get more than a single goal (the latter with the Azzurri), converting a penalty in the semifinal against Brazil (2-1). In any case, it was the main supplier of Silvio Piola, top scorer of the tournament with five goals. With their captain carrying handle, Italy was not going to see really made uncomfortable at any time, as demonstrated by his easy victory in the final against Hungary on 19 June in Paris (4-2).Even in the most important moments of his career, Giuseppe Meazza was always a playboy who collected conquests, loved gambling, dancing the tango with a white gardenia in her ear, and was the only player who could smoke openly in front of Vittorio Pozzo . For ten years, he would continue his career on the bench for several clubs, before taking charge of the smaller categories of Inter, where he had a blunt such Sandro Mazzola (another orphan that led to glory).At his death in 1979, Inter Milan decided to rename the San Siro stadium in his honor, with the agreement of arch rival AC Milan; club in which, moreover, Meazza played for two seasons between 1940 and 1942.