Guardian

[Jonathan Rogers]

No, this is not about Leonard's column, and not even about Mr Moss. Rather one Scott Murray, commenting online on Italy v Germany, who during half-time invites the more intellectual followers of his live blog to follow a bit of the Master Game final in 1981! Here is the link (long may it still be working)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012 ... y-live-mbm

[JustinHorton]

Game effectively over before they'd got halfway through.

[Giulio Simeone]

Yes, Germany could well have resigned after minute 36

[John McKenna]

Just a few reminders -
Germany have never defeated Italy in a soccer match of any importance.
It has been 92 years since Spain defeated Italy in such a match.
Lothar Schmidt won his Master Game final match.
For anyone who missed it details of the Master Game can be found at -
www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7787

[IM Jack Rudd]

Just a few reminders -
Germany have never defeated Italy in a soccer match of any importance.

True, but they've only played three times, and Germany only needed a draw in the 1996 game.

[David Sedgwick]

Just a few reminders -
Germany have never defeated Italy in a soccer match of any importance.

True, but they've only played three times, and Germany only needed a draw in the 1996 game.

Really? I'd forgotten the 1996 encounter, but I can remember 1970, 1978 and now 2012.

Or were you not counting West Germany?

[IM Jack Rudd]

Just a few reminders -
Germany have never defeated Italy in a soccer match of any importance.

True, but they've only played three times, and Germany only needed a draw in the 1996 game.

Really? I'd forgotten the 1996 encounter, but I can remember 1970, 1978 and now 2012.

Or were you not counting West Germany?

I was indeed not counting West Germany or East Germany. (It's still a bit surprising that they've only played three times since reunification, given one or other of them reached the final in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2008.)

[Malcolm Clarke]

It certainly is right to say that Italy have never been beaten by West Germany, East Germany or Germany in anything other than friendly matches.

Italy in fact beat West Germany in the 1982 World Cup final and were in the same qualifying group as East Germany for the 1970 World Cup.