Giants of Europe write new chapter in old rivalry

Match of the Century, they called it. There’s even a plaque on the wall of the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to commemorate the delirious 4-3 win that sent Italy through to the final of the 1970 World Cup at the expense of West Germany.

It was the opening act in a drama extending across four decades and shows no sign of exhaustion.

Let’s See Who Has Most Bottle is the battle-cry of Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport. Only Buffon Stands In Our Way, responds Germany’s favourite tabloid Bild. Other nations may imagine they have needle matches: this one’s for real.