07 December 2022
Francesco Morini took part in one World Cup, that of 1974, which proved to be an unhappy one for the Italy national team. He would have deserved at least one more, the following one in 1978 when nine of the 11 starters for Italy were already Bianconeri, with the exclusion of him and Furino. These two anti-heros received little publicity but were fundamental in the life of the Lady.
DEBUT AT 28
Morini made his senior national team debut at the age of 28. He was already a mature defender, full of experience, whose authority placed him at the centre of the Juve backline. He played a major role in 1973, in the victory of the second consecutive championship and in reaching the final of the European Cup, when Ajax prevailed.
HIS 1974
Francesco Morini poses alongside Dino Zoff. They were two of the six Juventus members of the national team at the West German World Cup. The others were Anastasi, Causio, Capello and Spinosi. Morgan – as the black and white stopper was nicknamed – was on the field in all three of Italy's matches: the victory over Haiti; the draw with Argentina; the defeat against Poland, which prompted the Azzurri's premature elimination.
HIS 1978
Morini was not called up for the World Cup in Argentina. He was one of the players that paid the price when the Italian squad was rejuvinated following the letdown in Germany. After the '74 World Cup, Francesco still won two more caps, but had not featured since 1975. His personal satisfaction would all be earned with Juventus and in 1978 – here in a photo with Causio – the number 5 wore the shirt with the scudetto on the chest, which he won again twice in a row.
