San Marino's unlikely lads set for England
Friday, September 4, 2015
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Paolo Menicucci and Elia Gorini introduce the San Marino players who, bolstered by a first UEFA EURO point, will attempt to surprise England in Group E on Saturday.
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"Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" a television commentator famously exclaimed when the United States beat a seemingly unbeatable Soviet Union ice hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The miracle that San Marino need when they host England on Saturday is arguably even greater.
However, after picking up their first ever UEFA EURO point from 61 attempts when drawing 0-0 with Estonia last November, Pierangelo Manzaroli's team will at least take to the field with a burden lifted. We run the rule over the 11 Sammarinese players expected to face Roy Hodgson's side, with a barman, a pharmacist and a lawyer in the republic's squad.
San Marino likely lineup (5-4-1): A Simoncini; Bonini, D Simoncini, Brolli, Della Valle, Palazzi; Vitaioli, Tosi, Gasperoni, Hirsch; Selva.
Aldo Simoncini, GK
Team: AC Libertas
Age: 29
Profession: information technology student
Did you know? A serious car accident in 2005 put his career in jeopardy. A year later he was in goal when Germany set a European record by defeating San Marino 13-0, but once again the keeper bounced back in style, subsequently saving penalties against Czech Republic and Switzerland.
Giovanni Bonini, DEF
Team: SP Tre Penne
Age: 28
Profession: clerical worker
Did you know? He has the same surname as San Marino's most famous player, former Juventus midfielder Massimo Bonini. However, the two are not related. Giovanni will turn 29 on the day of the England game.
Davide Simoncini, DEF
Team: AC Libertas
Age: 29
Profession: accountant, financial adviser
Did you know? He is the twin brother of goalkeeper Aldo.
Cristian Brolli, DEF
Team: SS Folgore
Age: 23
Profession: labourer
Did you know? One of the youngsters in the squad, he has played in all six of his side's Group E matches and won the domestic double at club level last term.
Alessandro Della Valle, DEF
Team: SS Folgore
Age: 33
Profession: clerk
Did you know? He hit San Marino's last competitive goal, in a 5-1 defeat by Poland in 2013. San Marino had not scored in competitive action for five years previously. He received an offer from a Polish club after that strike.
Mirko Palazzi, DEF
Team: SP Tre Penne
Age: 28
Profession: semi-professional footballer
Did you know? He is the only San Marinese player to have scored two goals in a UEFA club competition game – a UEFA Europa League qualifier in 2010 – but his Tre Penne side lost 9-2 at home to Zrinjski.
Matteo Vitaioli, MF
Team: FC Fiorentino
Age: 25
Profession: labourer
Did you know? His brother Fabio also plays for San Marino. Matteo was in the academy of Serie A club Empoli in 2005/06
Luca Tosi, MF
Team: SS Folgore
Age: 22
Profession: office worker
Did you know? He was a key player in the Under-21 team – coached by Manzaroli – that made history by overcoming Wales 1-0 on 6 September 2013.
Lorenzo Gasperoni, MF
Team: AC Juvenes/Dogana
Age: 25
Profession: pharmacist
Did you know? He got the opener in last season's league title decider in San Marino but his side eventually went down 3-1 to Folgore.
Adolfo José Hirsch, MF
Team: SS Folgore
Age: 29
Profession: labourer
Did you know? Born in Argentina, he emigrated to San Marino with his family in 2008. He won the Crystal Ball in 2015 as the best player in San Marino.
Andy Selva, FOR
Team: SP La Fiorita
Age: 39
Profession: children's football coach
Did you know? He will become San Marino's most-capped player (70) if he features against England. He is already the republic's eight-goal top scorer, including a winner in a 2004 friendly against Liechtenstein, with UEFA President Michel Platini watching from the stands. The former Sassuolo and Verona attacker is president of the Union of Footballers in San Marino.
Also in the squad: Manuel Battistini (painter), Michele Cervellini (lawyer), Nicola Chiaruzzi (barman).
Coach: Pierangelo Manzaroli
Age: 46
Did you know? When it comes to sporting miracles, Manzaroli is the man. He coached local team Libertas to a 1-1 draw with Irish club Drogheda United in a 2007/08 UEFA Cup tie and also led a San Marino side through the preliminary round of the 2008/09 UEFA Regions' Cup before guiding the U21s to a stalemate against Greece and a success over Wales. Not surprisingly, San Marino claimed their first ever UEFA European Championship point under him