Why does Italy wears azzurro? It has to do with the Savoia family, a crusade and complicated Italian history

There have been very few cases in which the Italian national team has played in colours other than light blue. The green jersey, inspired by the Renaissance, presented a year and a half ago, which has divided public opinion so much, is proof of this. A jersey that arrived at one of the most difficult times in our sporting history, designed to instil hope but which had the side effect of reawakening Italian traditionalism when it comes to football shirts, with the public clamouring for the return of the classic light blue. Despite the fact that light blue is now part of the collective imagination of world sport and the athletes who represent the country are called Azzurri, watching the first matches of EURO2020 one realises what an exception it is: we are one of the very few national teams whose colour is not present in the flag palette. The origin of light blue - or rather Blu Savoia - has its roots in the Kingdom of Italy and the coat of arms of the ruling family, the Savoia. 

Light blue has always been with us, and it will also be with us at these European Championships, even though Italy made its debut against Turkey in the new white jersey made by PUMA. From the greatest victories to the defeats, the blue has resisted even the transition from monarchy to democracy, a colour that has represented Italy for over 100 years.