Italian football perfected defense to win with two goals

Italian football became a tactical laboratory through a system called catenaccio, or 'the padlock.' Pioneered by coaches like Helenio Herrera, this strategy focused on a specialized defender called the libero, who sat behind the main defensive line to sweep up any breakthroughs. In one legendary run, Herrera's Inter Milan won two European Cups while conceding only two goals, proving that a team could dominate by simply refusing to let the opponent play.