SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
You may not recognize this stately anthem.
(SOUNDBITE OF FEDERICO CONSOLO'S "INNO NAZIONALE")
SIMON: But this week, the anthem made hearts soar as San Marino defeated Liechtenstein 1-nil to win its first international soccer victory in 20 years.
Twenty years is not as long as BJ Leiderman has been doing our theme music, but it's a long time without winning a game. In fact, the winning goal - and only goal - was scored by Nicko Sensoli, who, being 19, wasn't even born the last time San Marino won.
Now, San Marino is a microstate in the mountains of northeastern Italy with just 33,000 people. Doesn't give them a lot of folks from whom to choose for a team. When San Marino won the last time - 2004 - it was also against Liechtenstein, which has about 6,000 more people. Soccer fans there might be thinking, lost to San Marino? Again? How did we ever get into such a rut?
(SOUNDBITE OF FEDERICO CONSOLO'S "INNO NAZIONALE") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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