The historic Florentine football match, Calcio Storico Fiorentino, concluded with an extraordinary finale this year. The Rossi di Santa Maria Novella emerged victorious against the Azzurri di Santa Croce with a thrilling 8-7 score in the golden caccia after the 50-minute regulation time ended in a tie. This marks the second consecutive year that the Rossi have won the revered ‘football in costume’ reenactment.
The game was well-contested, with the Azzurri maintaining the lead until the 7-3 score, at which point the Rossi mounted an impressive comeback in the final ten minutes, aided by three expulsions of Azzurri players. The 7-7 tie at the end of regulation time (50 minutes without intermission) was ultimately broken during the extended overtime period. The decisive caccia was scored by the Rossi three minutes into the extra time.
Prestigious figures graced the sandy field in Piazza Santa Croce, including former Fiorentina player Franck Ribery and Luca Minetti, the coach of Rari Nantes Florentia, who led the Florentine water polo team back to Serie A1 after three years in the lower division.
Among the spectators in the stands, as in the two semifinals, were the mayoral runoff candidates, Sara Funaro and Eike Schmidt. The stands were filled to capacity in every seating section.
Over 5,000 spectators witnessed the final match. Notable attendees included the Governor of Tuscany, Eugenio Giani, the mayor and Member of the European Parliament, Dario Nardella, and the national coordinator of Fratelli d’Italia, Giovanni Donzelli. A sizable delegation of foreign journalists was also present in the press tribune.
The Calcio Storico Fiorentino final was truly a captivating event, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and passion of Florence on a grand stage.
