When we play San Marino

15 October 2008 - San Marino (h)

11 February 2009 - San Marino (a)

Stadio Olimpico is a multi-use stadium in Serravalle, San Marino. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is the national stadium of San Marino, and is also used by the club San Marino Calcio, which plays in the Italian football league. The Stadio Olimpico is also used by Serravalle based football club A.C. Juvenes/Dogana for its home games. The Stadio Olimpico is an all-seater stadium and has a maximum capacity of 2,210

San Marino national football team has enjoyed very little success, due to the republic's tiny population, the smallest of any UEFA country.

The first official game played by a San Marino team was a 0–4 defeat in a European Championships qualifier to Switzerland in 1990. Previously, a San Marino side had lost 0–1 to a Canadian Olympic team in 1986, but this was not an official match. Since making their competitive bow San Marino have competed in qualifying for every European Championships and World Cup, but have never won a match in either competition. They have only ever won one game, beating Liechtenstein 1–0 in a friendly match on 28 April 2004.

One-tenth the size of New York City, San Marino is surrounded by Italy. It is situated in the Apennines, a little inland from the Adriatic Sea near Rimini.

Government

Republic.

History

According to tradition, San Marino was founded about A.D. 350 and had the good luck for centuries to stay out of the many wars and feuds on the Italian peninsula. It is the oldest republic in the world. San Marino has survived, completely intact, attacks by other self-governing Italian city-states, the Napoleonic Wars, the unification of Italy, and two world wars. Those born in San Marino remain citizens and can vote no matter where they live. It joined the United Nations in 1992.

FIFA World Cup Record:

1930 - Did not enter

1934 - Did not enter

1938 - Did not enter

1950 - Did not enter

1954 - Did not enter

1958 - Did not enter

1962 - Did not enter

1966 - Did not enter

1970 - Did not enter

1974 - Did not enter

1978 - Did not enter

1982 - Did not enter

1986 - Did not enter

1990 - Did not enter

1994 - Did not qualify

1998 - Did not qualify

2002 - Did not qualify

2006 - Did not qualify

UEFA European Championships Record:

1960 - Did not enter

1964 - Did not enter

1968 - Did not enter

1972 - Did not enter

1976 - Did not enter

1980 - Did not enter

1984 - Did not enter

1988 - Did not enter

1992 - Did not qualify

1996 - Did not qualify

2000 - Did not qualify

2004 - Did not qualify

There are no trains into San Marino, so you're limited to

buses or driving yourself. The easiest way to get to San Marino is by bus from Rimini. The buses to San Marino leave in front of the railway station. The journey from Rimini to San Marino lasts about 50 minutes and takes you easily to San Marino.

If you're driving, take the S72 from Rimini's city centre. But bear in mind that cars are prohibited in the walled area of the city, so exploring it on foot is often the best solution. If you have a car you'll need to park it at one of the numerous car parks in the nearby township of Borgo Maggiore, at the foot of the mountain, and take the 1.5km (1mi) cable car up to San Marino, or leave it at one of the various (and expensive) car parks inside the city limits but outside the walled section.

Bologna is about 1 hour by train to Rimini.

Either way you decide to go, you can cover the distance from Milan to Rimini by plane, train or car. It is 207miles or 331km.