The day Ancelotti brought down Spain with the ‘9’ on his back

In a Italy with Viali and Mancini in front as starters. In Alessandro Altobelli coming in from the bench. A defensive midfielder like Carlo Ancelotti he wore 9 in his only European Cupthe one in 1988, when he crossed the path to knock down a Spain warrior

Member of a generation that is forever remembered in Milan, before Ancelotti He made a name for himself in Italian football, shining for Roma Paulo Falcao and Bruno Conti. When the injury that kept him out of the field in his first European Cup, lost to Liverpool in 1984 in the most painful way, in the penalty shootout.

After a while ‘Carletto’ retaliated. For football memory his name is associated with that of Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Franco Baresi, Frank Rijkaard or a young Paolo Maldini in conquering two European Cups.

So, between two World Cups, Mexico 1986 and Italy 1990, where he barely had a leading role, a single start and in the consolation match against England for third place. In a decade of international appearances in which he played 26 matches and barely scored a goal, as a starter on the day of his memorable debut against the Netherlands, a European Cup as a great competition with the leading role as the main actor.

With Ancelotti in charge of an Italy game where he shared the midfield with Roberto Donadoni, Giuseppe Giannini and Fernando De Napoli, he needed victory on the second day against Spain after drawing against West Germany as the Reds, in the lead by Miguel Muñoz defeated Denmark with goals from Míchel, Emilio Butragueño and Rafa Gordillo.

Within Frankfurt Waldstadion, At the time, still in West Germany, Ancelotti controlled the game of an Italy led by Azeglio Vicini who were sweating it out to overcome Spain. Unmatched in football, difficult tackles from Tomás Reñones, Miquel Soler and Víctor Muñoz sometimes slowed down the rival until Ancelotti found the passing line in the movement of Vialli that he defined after an action full of quality, with an unreachable cross shot for Andoni Zubizarreta.

The world is upside down. The scorer’s number, number 9, was worn by the midfielder who imposed the balance and pushed Italy to the semi-finals where Ancelotti’s only Euro Cup ended, losing to the Soviet Union.