The Italian team before the Germany match in Dortmund Photo: IMAGO
From our editorial team
The question that few people know the answer to: Why do Italian footballers actually run as Azzurri why are the jerseys blue and not green-white-red?
The blue colour actually has royal origins: Italy was a kingdom when it was founded as a nation state. From 1861 to 1946, representatives of the Savoy dynasty sat on the Italian throne.
From the crusade to the football pitch
Photo: stock.adobe.com/charnsitr
The coat of arms of the House of Savoy is a white cross on a red background - but the colour of the family is blue! This is said to have a sacred reason:
A good 600 years ago, Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, set off on a papal crusade to the eastern Mediterranean, according to tradition on 20 June 1366. He is said to have hoisted a blue flag alongside the Savoy flag on the flagship of his fleet. Blue is the colour of Saint Mary - and since that time also of the Savoy.
Italy played the first two international matches in its history in white. One year later, in 1911, the footballers played in the colours of the Savoy, in blue, in honour of their king.
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This is how important football is in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. (Almost) everyone loves the national team - and when they lose, the whole country suffers. Officially, around 5 million people play football, 1.5 million of whom are registered players.
There are 17,000 teams in Italy. 5000 footballers earn their living as professionals. Every year, half a million football matches are played in various leagues. Many more Italians play football without a club, on the street or in their spare time.
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Italy is home to professional footballers
The Italian Football Association was founded in 1898. The association is one of the three founding members of UEFA. Professional football has existed since the 1930s, long before other European countries. Back then, anyone who wanted to become a professional footballer had to go to Italy or England.
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