Guarneri remembers Mazzola: he made me score the only goal in blue

Aristide Guarneri, former defender of the Grande Inter, wanted to remember Sandro Mazzola in an interview with Corriere della Sera. Words full of gratitude for an unforgettable moment experienced with the National Team.

“I will never forget that it was Sandro who made me score my first and only goal for the National Team,” Guarneri recounted. Italy was coming off a heavy elimination at the 1966 World Cup in England, with the defeat against Korea. The match marking the restart was played at San Siro against the Soviet Union, with eight Inter players on the field. “Only because Suarez and Jair were foreigners, otherwise it really would have been Inter… National Team. Even our coach was on the bench: the Magician Helenio Herrera.”

The story of the goal is rich in detail: “At that time, defenders didn’t push forward in attack. I found myself up front and saw Sandro, who had half the Russian defense on him. He dribbled past them all and then passed me the ball, ready to put it in the net. And defending it was a certain Yashin, the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or.”

Guarneri’s conclusion is full of emotion: “So I scored, we won one-nil, Italy started again. My first and only goal with the blue shirt. And thank you forever, Sandro.”