The Zurich urn brings to light the ghosts of the past and brings back memories of 67 years ago when the national team of Foni’s “oriundi” sensationally failed, and for the first time ever, to qualify for the World Cup
Wednesday 15 January 1958, gray sky over Belfast, Northern Ireland: teeth-chattering cold, in the press gallery the Italian journalists are wrapped in heavy overcoats, there are the big “signatures”, from Gianni Brera to Angelo Rovelli, who exchange opinions before the kick-off and confess, perhaps out of superstition or perhaps out of conviction, their perplexities, their doubts and even their fears. Italy plays for the qualification for the 1958 World Cup against the modest Northern Irish: a draw is enough and it’s done. Yet, despite having two results out of three available, the Azzurri led by coach Alfredo Foni do not inspire confidence. It is above all the environment that generates tensions and fears: the Belfast crowd is very hot, will the national team be able to withstand this pressure? The precedent of forty days earlier is not a good omen.