By what nickname is the Italian National soccer team known?

The Italian national soccer team is known as the Azzurri, meaning “the Blues.” The nickname comes from the team’s traditional blue shirts, called azzurro in Italian. Blue is not one of the dominant colors of Italy’s national flag, which is green, white, and red, so the team’s kit has its own historical origin.

The blue color is associated with the House of Savoy, the dynasty that ruled Italy when the national team was formed. Italy wore blue in an international match against Hungary in 1911, and the color became a lasting part of the team’s identity. The badge and trim have changed over time, but the blue shirt has remained central.

Italy’s nickname is usually written “Gli Azzurri,” literally “the Blues,” though “Azzurri” alone is the standard short form used in English. The women’s national team is often called the Azzurre, the feminine form. “La Nazionale,” meaning “the national team,” is another Italian nickname, but Azzurri is the canonical answer to this question.