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Meazza: Italy’s greatest ever?

ROME - Two times a World Cup winner, Giuseppe Meazza could arguably be described as Italy’s most successful international ever.

A key figure in Italy’s 1934 and 1938 World Cup triumphs, Meazza was Italy’s most prolific goalscorer throughout the 1930s and probably would have scored more had World War II not intervened.

Born in Milan in 1910, Meazza signed for Internazionale in 1927, and quickly forged a reputation as a ruthless finisher par excellence.

His trademark was a twinkle-toed shuffle in one-on-one situations that often left opposition goalkeepers groping at thin air.

In his second season at Inter he scored 33 goals, and in 1929/30, the first time Italian football had a fully-fledged, nationwide Serie A, he finished topscorer with 31 goals in 33 appearances.

In 1930 he was also given his first start for Italy, scoring twice on his debut as Switzerland were swept aside 4-2. More goals followed in a hat-trick against Hungary later that year.

Though enjoying great success as an orthodox centre-forward, it was as an old-fashioned inside forward that Meazza was to enjoy his greatest successes as a player, both scoring goals and creating opportunities for others.

The decision by Italy coach Vittorio Pozzo to move the Inter striker into a slightly deeper role for the 1934 World Cup proved inspired.

He scored a vital headed winner in the second round against Spain, and in the final, though carrying an injury, was able to provide the cross which led to Schiavio’s decisive goal in Italy’s 2-1 win over Czechoslovakia.

Four years later in France, Meazza was back as captain. Again his goalscoring achievements were limited, netting just once in the tournament, but his contribution to Italy’s successful defence was massive.

His only goal was a nerveless winning penalty in the semi-final over Brazil, and in the final he set up two of Italy’s efforts in the 4-2 win over Hungary.

Soon after guiding Italy to their second World Cup, Meazza suffered a serious knee injury which effectively ended his career.

He made the cross-city switch to Inter’s rivals AC Milan in 1939, but the outbreak of war and his waning fitness limited him to only a handful of appearances.

Occasional guest peformances for Juventus and Atalanta were followed by a spell as Inter’s player-coach in 1946-47, before he eased into retirement.

Meazza’s goalscoring record for Italy - 33 in 53 international appearances - remained unchallenged until it was beaten by Luigi Riva. At club level, Meazza scored 269 goals in 440 Serie A matches.

At his death in 1979, both Inter and AC Milan accepted that the famous San Siro should be renamed the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in honour of the player.