Soccer in Italy has been played since the 16^th and 17^th centuries. It was played in cities such as Venice and Florence. Back then the game was called Calcio. Trying to force the ball through the openings in either end of city square was the task of two teams of Italian gentlemen on certain festival days. Physical contact  was a part of the game then, unlike today. Also handling the ball was apart of it to. Unlike today, handling isn’t aloud.

The Italian team won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938. In those years their manager Vittorio Pozzo led them to victory by making them train hard. He realized the importance of physical fitness. Also they recently one the 2006 World Cup. Hopefully in the future they will win another one but the World Cup only comes once every 4 years.

One country can have many soccer clubs. Italy has many famous teams. Probably the most famous team from Italy is A.C. Milan football club. Another club that is not so famous in Italy is Juventus. Other clubs in Italy are Varse club, and Internazionale club. Many other clubs that are apart of Italian soccer, or should I say football, but they aren’t as popular as the A.C. Milan football club.

Over time Italy has had many outstanding players, in the 1930’s stars Giuseppe Mezza, and goal keeper Gianpiero Combi led there team to victory. Diego Maradona, Raimondo Orsi, Silvio Piola, Alberto Boninsegna, Dino Zoff, Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, Michel Platini, and many others have been known throughout Italy as soccer heros. Most of these heros are dead but some are alive today. Of course they don’t play soccer any more. They have been replaced by new heros that make Italian soccer what it is today.