New tactics, trusting youth, and team spirit: How San Marino achieved the impossible

There is a sense of change in San Marino. For the first time, the national team of the small republic has achieved an historic milestone: promotion to League C of the UEFA Nations League.

This result stems from years of dedication, hard work and passion. It represents a sensational achievement for football in San Marino, with two wins in a single Nations League campaign. On 5 September at the San Marino Stadium, the Titani defeated Liechtenstein 1-0 thanks to a Nicko Sensoli goal to claim their first victory of any sort in 20 years and a first-ever competitive win.

How the UEFA Nations League gave hope

Since its inception, the Nations League has provided a valuable opportunity for some of Europe's lesser heralded national teams to make an impact. San Marino are the perfect example. In 2020 they secured draws against Gibraltar and Liechtenstein, bringing the realisation that the competition could be a significant way to get results and contribute to the growth of Sammarinese football.

Next came solid performances in the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers under new coach Roberto Cevoli. The former Modena, Reggina, Torino and Reggiana player brought his experience to the table and in 2024 has achieved remarkable results.

On 18 November, goals by Lorenzo Lazzari, Nicola Nanni, and Alessandro Golinucci gave San Marino their biggest-ever victory, 3-1 away to Liechtenstein, sparking scenes of wild celebration as they topped Group 1 of Nations League D.

"This achievement represents the fulfilment of a goal I set when starting this journey," Cevoli told UEFA. "It's historic and beautiful."

Trust in youth

One of Cevoli's key innovations has been to focus on youth. Many players have made their international debuts thanks to his leadership and the Football Association of San Marino (FSGC), whose recent project aimed to lower the squad's average age and build for the future.

Among the standout players is Nanni, born in 2000, who already has 42 caps and three goals, including crucial ones against Gibraltar and Liechtenstein. The Torres Calcio striker, the only current professional in the squad, exemplifies San Marino's football project having played in the national youth system until the age of 16.

"When the ball hit the net, it felt like I had given our entire nation the lead," Nanni said after converting an added-time penalty in the draw against Gibraltar. "The responsibility was immense, but with hard work and team trust, it becomes easier."

Nicola Nanni is the team's talisman and only professional in the San Marino squadFGSC/Trefzer

The foundations for improvement

San Marino's improvement has been built on state-of-the-art facilities created with support from UEFA's HatTrick programme, including the San Marino Stadium and Casa del Calcio. The latter is home to both the FSGC and the innovative San Marino Academy, an Under-22 team of local players competing in the domestic league.

The Nations League has also been hugely beneficial, offering San Marino opportunities to compete regularly against similar opponents and improve in attack.

"The Nations League has been a fundamental step in our growth," said FSGC president Marco Tura. "The format has helped us shift from a defensive style to a more offensive one, transforming our mentality and playing philosophy.

"UEFA's support has been crucial," Tura added. "It changed our mentality and vision of football. UEFA guided us in every step of our organisational and technical development, enabling us to raise football's level not just economically but also structurally and technically."