San Marino may officially be the world’s worst football team but the tiny nation’s men’s team made history on Monday by achieving a historic Uefa Nations League promotion.
Lorenzo Lazzari, Nicola Nanni and Alessandro Golinucci all scored to see off Liechtenstein 3-1, which was only their second win since 2004.
It was also their second win this season against Liechtenstein this season, another tiny state that has become something of a footballing rival.
🇸🇲’s Nations League campaign:
— San Marino fan account (@SanMarino_FA) November 18, 2024
- Their first win in 20 years
- Their first ever competitive win
- Their biggest win ever
- Their first ever comeback win
- THEIR FIRST PROMOTION TO THE NATIONS LEAGUE C
What a time to be alive.
FORZA TITANI 🇸🇲🇸🇲🇸🇲
Sensationally, it was the first time Sam Marino had scored more than two goals in a match since their first official international match in 1987.
Topping their fourth division Nations League table, above Gibraltar and Lichtenstein, was a glorious moment for the side placed 210th and last in Fifa’s world rankings.
With a population of just 30,000, San Marino have become known as also-rans, if not whipping boys, against larger sides in European qualification games.
England ran out 10-0 winners in the sides’ most recent meeting in 2021, but Germany took the humiliation to the next level by crushing them 0-13 in 2006.
San Marino’s promotion will mean sterner tests await, but for now Roberto Cevoli’s team can bask in the glory of the small state’s finest hour.
Over the years, the team has routinely gone through whole qualification processes without scoring at all and losing all matches by three or more goals.
Their all-time record scorer Andy Selva has found the net a mere eight times.
Listing San Marino’s achievements up until now is a tough task – but the latest win can be seen within the context of a list of matches the team simply has not lost.
Look away now, any fans of Liechtenstein!
Every match San Marino’s men’s international team has not lost
San Marino 0-0 Lebanon - September 1987
The first official international for San Marino was a relatively bright start, holding their Middle Eastern competitors to a stalemate.
San Marino 0-0 Turkey - March 1993
The Lebanon draw proved the only non-defeat in nearly six years before Turkey failed to break through in a 1994 World Cup qualifier.
Latvia 1-1 San Marino - April 2001
When Southampton striker Marians Pahars netted within 60 seconds it seemed San Marino’s woeful record would continue. But defender Nicola Albani equalised to make history, giving La Serenissim (the most tranquil) their first away point.
Lichtenstein 2-2 San Marino - August 2003
A rivalry of minnows began with this international friendly in August 2003.
San Marino 1-0 Liechtenstein - April 2004
After more than 70 games without a win, Selva scored the only goal in this friendly to give San Marino their first ever victory – and their last for 20 years!
San Marino 0-0 Estonia - November 2014
After ten years and 61 games, San Marino ended their losing streak to secure their first ever point in a European qualifier.
Lichtenstein 0-0 San Marino - October 2020
The rivalry continued with this stalemate.
San Marino 0-0 Gibraltar - November 2020
The Nations League format gave teams like San Marino more chances to play sides of around their level, which has led to the 2020s becoming something of a purple patch.
San Marino 0-0 Seychelles - September 2022
The African nation was held in a nil-nil to give the Sammarinese their first result against a non-European side.
St Kitts and Nevis 0-0 San Marino - November 2022
This unusual friendly brought another stalemate to continue a relatively good run of form for San Marino.
San Marino 1-0 Liechtenstein - September 2024
And for the first time since 2004, San Marino won a match – courtesy of Nicko Sensoli’s goal – to once more down Liechtenstein.
San Marino have been PROMOTED to Nations League C after scoring three goals in a game for the first time in a 3-1 win over Liechtenstein 🇸🇲🚨 pic.twitter.com/Ns1nFnpcCH
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 19, 2024
San Marino 1-1 Gibraltar - November 2024
Nicola Nanni scored a late penalty to give San Marino a vital point towards Nations League promotion.
Lichtenstein 1-3 San Marino - November 2024
La Serenissima did it again over their bitter rivals on Tuesday to take another three points.
Congratulations, San Marino!
