After declining to participate in the first World Cup ( 1930 , in Uruguay ) the Italian national team won two consecutive editions of the tournament in 1934 and 1938 , under the direction of coach Vittorio Pozzo and the performance of Giuseppe Meazza , who is considered one of the best Italian football players of all time by some . Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup , and played their first ever World Cup match in a 7 – 1 win over the United States in Rome . Italy defeated Czechoslovakia 2 – 1 in extra time in the final in Rome , with goals by Raimundo Orsi and Angelo Schiavio to achieve their first World cup title in 1934 . They achieved their second title in 1938 in a 4 – 2 defeat of Hungary , with two goals by Gino Colaussi and two goals by Silvio Piola in the World Cup that followed . Rumour has it , before the 1938 finals fascist Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini was to have sent a telegram to the team , saying " Vincere o morire ! " ( literally translated as " Win or die ! " ) . However , no record remains of such a telegram , and World Cup player Pietro Rava said , when interviewed , " No , no , no , that 's not true . He sent a telegram wishing us well , but no never ' win or die ' . " In 1949 , 10 of the 11 players in the team 's initial line-up were killed in a plane crash that affected Torino , winners of the previous five Serie A titles . Italy did not advance further than the first round of the 1950 World Cup , as they were weakened severely due to the air disaster . The team had travelled by boat rather than by plane , fearing another accident
plane crash
Superga air disaster
History of the Italy national football team