Italy takes the first gold since 1987 with the largest margin of victory in the history of the European final
Italy celebrates historic victory over Sweden in IFAF European Championship gold medal Photo: Mikkel Rasmussen / 1st Down Photo
They were the team that no one knew what to expect from. A gold medal challenger who had not played a match in two years. A European finalist only in the championship game because their counterparts in the semifinal defense were forced to confiscate due to a covid outbreak.
All the way to kick-off IFAF EM play in Malmö, Sweden, Team Italy was untried and unknown. A question mark facing a tried and tested Team Sweden in his own homeland.
What a wildcard Italian proved to be dominant on a scale never seen before in one European last, blow out the shell shocked Swedes with 41-14. In the 14 gold medal games since then Italy claimed the very first Euro back in 1983 no team has ever scored more points and their 27 point margin of victory exceeded 26-0 1989 final between UK and Finland for the most skewed championship in the history of the tournament.
“It’s been a long journey to get to this. I think we have all done a fantastic job, not just today, but every day since we got involved in this program,” Italian head coach Davide Giuliano said after the match. ” Seven years of hard work and commitment. Now is the time to enjoy it. ”
The Italian‘dominance from start to finish began on the initial kickoff, when little Tamsir Seck returned the ball to midfield and struck late off the field. They got the ball in excellent position on the field Sweden The 35-yard line and full-back Mike Gentili did the rest and finished with a patient 15-yard touchdown running behind a fantastic move from Francesco Runco that set the tone for the rest of the match.
Sweden could not get an answer and soon it was speedster Jordan Bouah’s turn to shine. The previous Ottawa Red Black flamed down the right sideline for a 58-yard catch from quarterback Luke Zahradka, then hit Josef Nguzo hard on the post for a 13-yard touchdown run. The only glimmer of hope for Swedes was a missed extra point from Matteo Felli when the guests went up 13-0.
Again Swedish crime came up empty, but a big hit from the former Montreal Alouette William James forced a Simone Alinovi fumble on the next drive. Noah Allsten recovered, but despite the best efforts of scrambling quarterback Philip Juhlin, an offensive first attempt would not result. Alinovi soon got some redemption with a 30-yard win to get the ball rolling and Italian methodically marched the field and went back to the Parma standout on a three yard out to complete another touchdown drive.
Sweden luck did not get better, as their next drive ended quickly when Giacomo Insom knocked the ball out of the grip of the hill Emil Knutsson and Marco Taddia recovered. Four games later, Gentili drove big Aslan Zetterberg and drove 14 yards for his second touchdown in the game with only more heartache to follow for BD Kennedy’s team.
A 16-yard Timmy Göransson race looked like a much-needed spark for it Swedes, but Juhlin soon found himself stuffed on what looked like a fourth and an inch. A spectacular jumping grip from Alinovi later and Italian was at the finish line. They were stopped three times but unlike their opponent, they converted on the fourth try, with Alinovi taking a yard touchdown pass after a cheeky rub from Stefano Di Tunisi made him open.
Juhlin did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. The Italians went into the break with an unmatched score of 34-0 and it seemed already time to hand out the hardware.
Philip Juhlin was obviously upset about the team’s initial performance and came out with a long drive to start the second half. The Swedes managed to move the ball but had to tip again before they finally got the lucky bounce that they had needed the whole match. The returnee Simone Boni missed a couple of tackles before Bartoscz Wozniak hit the ball loose and Denny John restored Italian football inside the 10-yard line. After a penalty on defense, Juhlin rolled out and found Filip Wetterberg for a three-yard touchdown to break the suspension, where Filip Jönsson added a two-point change.
The Italian wasted no time in getting the offensive going again, but a deep touchdown from Jordan Bouah was called back to hold. When Zahradka was looking deep for Bouah again, William James was there to pick it up and it looked like Sweden finally had the speed on its side. It ended quickly when a big Marco Taddia sack on the fourth try ended another drive in a turnover.
A couple of runs later in the fourth quarter Italian finally got his mojo back. Zahradka dropped it in the bucket to Alinovi for a 65-yard win, just saved from a touchdown by a desperate Victor Blomback horse necklace, and Nicholas Diaco drove it into the remaining yard as the wild quarterback to extend the healthy lead.
Juhlin answered with another long drive and found Finnkampen hero Matthias Gauthier for a nine-yard touchdown, but this one was over long before Sweden two-point attempts fell incompletely. The remaining few minutes were purely academic as Italian the bench counted down the seconds to its 41-14 gold medal.
For Team Sweden, Philip Juhlin went 18-of-30 for 150 yards of passes and two touchdowns, while making his primary threat on the ground. Edvin Taborda led the way with a 45-yard reception, while Sebastian Gauthier had a team’s high six tackles and Malcolm Engström added a sack. William James was the MVP for the silver medalists thanks to his wiretapping and forced fumble.
“I have to give Italy credit for playing an excellent match. They were very solid in all aspects. In a match against a very good team you can not make the mistakes we made. We had too many penalties, we did not win the big one. the game battle and we did not win in certain critical situations, says Team Sweden’s head coach BD Kennedy about the loss.
“I am very proud of what we have achieved on this journey. We have some very good young talent and we have some solid older players. We beat Russia, Great Britain and Finland to have the opportunity to play in the championship game. We will regroup and move on.”
For Italian, the clear MVP was quarterback Luke Zahradka, the proud double citizen from Franklin Square, New York. Zahradka was 20-of-24 for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one pick as he dissected Swedish defense. The recipients were receiver Jordan Bouah, with 108 yards and a touchdown, and Simone Alinovi, who has 112 yards and two points. Defensive linemen Lorenzo Dalle Piagge, Giacomo Insom and Marco Taddia were noticeable presence in Sweden backfield all night.
In the aftermath of such an unexpected skew on the continent’s largest stage, there are certainly some who question the benefits of a Italian teams with so many outstanding American born dual nationals, including Zahradka and defensive standings Nick Alfieri and Cody Pastorino. However, there were no hired mercenaries here and you need look no further than that Massachusetts-born hill Mike Gentili, who rushed for 52 yards and two touchdowns, collapsed to one knee and overwhelmed with emotion at seeing the players’ real desire to take back a title to Italy.
There is no doubt that Gentili at that moment was thinking of his late father and his pride Italian descent, the very reasons why he gave up everything to pursue a football dream and carry the flag of his ancestors in battle. With European the title fixed Italian for the first time since 1987, one can safely say that they would be very proud.