SERRAVALLE, San Marino — Waiting 20 years to win a soccer match is an unbearably long time for any team, even if it's officially the worst in the world. But for San Marino, those two decades of pain made the joy of Thursday's 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein all the more special.
The concept of the long-suffering fan has become something of a cliché in football, but the supporters of the San Marino national football team can rightfully be considered the most long-suffering of all.
The tiny country of just 33,000 people, surrounded entirely by Italy, one of the most successful nations in men's international football, had amassed the unenviable record of going two decades without a win. The team's last victory was in a friendly against Liechtenstein in 2004. That record has left the team in a position of numerical inferiority. Titanium propping up the FIFA World Rankings, sitting at 210th out of 210. Hampered by the fact that the vast majority of their games are against UEFA sides, there are few matches they have any chance of winning.
None of this discouraged the unique group of San Marino ultras, the “Brigade May 1 Gioia” (There is never joy) Coming mainly from Italy, they have cheered on San Marino in all their home games and in many away games since they were formed in 2004, taking pride in the fact that they have never seen their heroes win.
But San Marino had quietly shown some promise. In their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, San Marino scored goals in three consecutive games against some relatively illustrious opponents such as Denmark, Kazakhstan and Finland. A goal at any stage of a San Marino match provokes a pitch invasion and scenes of jubilation, but it had slowly begun to cease being a surprise.
When San Marino lined up a pair of friendlies at home against Concacaf side Saint Kitts and Nevis in March, hopes began to emerge that this might be the time to break the curse after a 140-match winless streak. However, just like when the minnows travelled to St Lucia for two matches only to pick up a loss and a draw, things did not go as planned. San Marino led against their Caribbean visitors, but Saint Kitts and Nevis triumphed 3-1 and then a 0-0 draw in the second game did nothing to quench the San Marinos’ thirst for victory.
A change of coach could have been a factor. Fabrizio Costantini, the architect of San Marino’s sudden success in front of goal, was unexpectedly replaced by Roberto Cevoli. At the same time, not one but two of the goalkeepers retired, freeing themselves from the burden of one of the most thankless tasks in international football. These changes were the prelude to San Marino starting their UEFA Nations League Group D campaign alongside Gibraltar (FIFA ranking: 198) and Liechtenstein (199).
For nations like San Marino, the Nations League has been a blessing, allowing them to regularly play competitive matches against teams of their own calibre. So when they faced Liechtenstein, the only team they had previously beaten and who were on a 39-match winless streak, this was clearly their greatest chance at glory.
Matches at the Stadio Olimpico in Serravalle are usually calm, with spectators lulled by a sense of inevitability, but on Thursday the mood was different. The crowd, joined by a large contingent of children from a football school, was noticeably larger than at recent games, though nowhere near the stadium’s capacity of 6,600. There was a sense that this could be their night.
Liechtenstein started the match better and, after half an hour, Fabio Luque Notaro took advantage of a mistake by the San Marino defence to score the away goal. However, just as the home fans were beginning to lose hope, the VAR intervened and disallowed the goal for offside.
The respite gave San Marino energy and, shortly after the break, their big moment arrived. Nicko Sensoli made his way through to goal and took advantage of Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Büchel's indecision to score the goal and etch his name into the Titani's history forever.
With San Marino in the unusual position of leading the scoreboard, the tension mounted and became unbearable for the fans who had waited so long. When seven minutes of stoppage time were announced, even the Brigata, who had been applauding since the first minute, fell silent for a moment.
But despite a few scares, San Marino held on. At the final whistle, their players fell to their knees at the enormity of their achievement. The stadium announcer repeatedly shouted “San Marino 1-0 Liechtenstein”, unable to maintain even a semblance of neutrality in the face of such a momentous result.
“It was a perfect night,” Cevoli said after the match. “We scored one goal and we could have scored more, but they didn't score any. I couldn't have asked for anything better. I'm very happy for the players and for the federation, which deserves it so much.”
San Marino's winner against Liechtenstein hadn't even been born when Andy Selva scored the fateful goal in San Marino's last-gasp victory over Liechtenstein. But the 19-year-old, making only his fourth appearance for the senior national team, has taken his country one step further by securing his team's first ever victory in a competitive match.
“It was an incredible feeling [to score]”We prepared well for the match, gritted our teeth, managed to score and take the result home. I want to dedicate this to my family, my best friend, the fans, all the staff and all the people of San Marino.”
In the stands, there was an uproar among the San Marino supporters who have united to support the underdog. Fans from as far away as the UK, the US and even Argentina celebrated together. Among the locals, still bewildered by the foreign contingent in the crowd, there were some tears shed.
“I'm an old man,” said Alessandro, a die-hard San Marino fan. “I always say you can see anything if you watch enough football. But I have to say I thought I'd never be able to see this.”
At the other end of the age scale, two mothers were breastfeeding their babies, who can now boast a 100% winning record in their lives as San Marino fans. The state provides all newborns with a national team jersey in a bid to encourage children to take up the task of supporting one of the world's least successful teams.
The five Liechtenstein fans who travelled there lamented their team's failure as they prepared for the 600-kilometre return trip to their tiny principality in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria. They will have a chance for revenge in the return match in Vaduz in November.
As fans filed out of the Olimpico, with the lights illuminating the imposing Monte Titano, members of Brigata 1 Una Gioia picked up their flags and walked out, almost dazed.
“We'll have to change our name,” said one of the band's members, Marco Brigoli, with a smile. “From now on we might just be the band.” San Marino Brigadebecause this was definitely a true joy.”
