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It is a vivid memory for me. Its significance lies in the unexpectedness of the event. There was no extravagant celebration – the simple fact that we emerged as winners after 90 minutes on the field was the ultimate celebration for us,” recalls Simone Bacchiocchi. “We didn’t need to throw a big party. We were more than just a football team, we were a group of friends, a group of individuals who had made sacrifices and fought together to achieve a common goal. Our goal was to play a great game and achieve a favorable outcome.”
In April 2004, Bacchiocchi, at the age of 27, led San Marino to their first ever win in a full international match against Liechtenstein, but they have yet to secure a second victory in the almost 20 years since. Since that game, San Marino has played 137 matches and have only been in the lead for a mere six minutes, against Malta in August 2012.
The gloomy times may be coming to an end. This week, there are friendly matches scheduled at home against Saint Kitts & Nevis on Wednesday and Sunday. Despite being ranked 147th by Fifa (with San Marino sitting at the bottom in 210th place), Saint Kitts & Nevis have not been performing well lately and have lost seven out of their last nine games. In their most recent match, they were defeated 5-0 by Guadeloupe in November. On the other hand, San Marino has been on a positive streak, scoring in their last three matches, which is an unprecedented achievement for them. Despite their losses of 2-1, 3-1, and 2-1 in those games, they have shown improvement.
Lorenzo Capicchioni, the 22-year-old midfielder, stated that he is uncertain of the outcome if they are to win. It is something that was once thought to be impossible, but this time they have a chance at achieving it. Instead of their usual strategy of keeping the score at 0-0 for as long as possible, they will need to be more aggressive and aim to score. However, their previous match against Denmark in October showed their potential as they were able to tie the game with 20 minutes left and were actively trying to secure a draw.
In 2022, Capicchioni made his debut for the international team during two friendly matches against Caribbean teams in Saint Lucia. The team drew one match and lost the other, but they were played in a foreign country with a weakened roster. Capicchioni is not familiar with the level of competition in Saint Kitts, but the coach has provided video footage to help the team prepare. With a complete starting lineup this time, Capicchioni believes they have a good chance of winning if they play their best. He does not want to underestimate their opponents, but he is confident in their abilities.
Even though they’ve been scoring well, San Marino has replaced their coach, Fabrizio Costantini, with Roberto Cevoli. When Costantini left in December, he expressed regret that his father couldn’t come to the stadium anymore and he had hoped to dedicate a future victory to him. The team’s senior goalkeeper, Aldo Simoncini, has also retired from international play at 37, along with his 28-year-old backup, Elia Benedettini, who had been considering the move for some time but didn’t want to leave behind the team’s close bond.
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Capicchioni affirms that the team’s atmosphere remains positive. He believes that nothing much has changed and that they are still a cohesive group. As players from a small country, they have a strong bond and familiarity with each other. They understand the importance of giving their all for their national team and supporting each other. Instead of just being friends, they see each other as brothers and strive to go the extra mile for one another on the field. This strong camaraderie sets them apart and they are aware that they are often seen as the underdogs, but they use it as motivation to give their best effort.
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According to the United Nations, San Marino has a population of around 32,960, which is roughly one two-thousandth of the United Kingdom’s population. As a team, their chances of winning against most opponents are always slim. After playing 206 games, their overall record stands at one win, nine draws, and 196 losses. Despite their poor results and frequent goals against, representing San Marino is never a burden. It provides the opportunity to play in front of large crowds and against renowned players. Capicchioni holds onto a photo with Christian Eriksen, while Bacchiocchi recalls facing off against Zlatan Ibrahimović, Robert Lewandowski, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, as well as playing three times at Wembley Stadium.
Bacchiocchi explains that each match brought a great sense of pride. As a small nation, we don’t have access to top players and those who do play have to make sacrifices. Therefore, every time we played, we poured our heart and soul into the game with the utmost passion. We were not just players, but we were also hard-working individuals. It was truly an extraordinary experience for an ordinary person to have the chance to compete against professional athletes who make a living playing football.
In 2004, that particular game remains the most recent and sole win, which is not ideal. However, there is satisfaction in being a part of setting a precedent and proving that success is achievable. Over the past years, there has been significant effort and numerous advancements made. It is now time to transform those efforts into a triumphant outcome.
Source: theguardian.com
