This was a real feat for the national team, who according to the FIFA rankings, are the weakest in the world - and that shouldn't last for long. In an exclusive interview with Flashscore, in fact, Roberto Cevoli, the main architect of the results that has gone around the world, said he is convinced he can move the bar even higher.
And despite being still fresh from promotion to League C in the Nations League, the San Marino coach - who has also played in Serie A with Modena - is aware that certain combinations could allow his team to play in the World Cup play-offs in March 2026 that will assign the last spaces for the tournament.
In the chat with Flashscore, the coach speaks about the "miracle" of Vaduz, the future of the national team and Carlo Ancelotti.
Flashscore: Let's go back a few days and, first of all, congratulations. The euphoria still hasn't worn off but, now that a few days have passed, what can't you really help but think back to?
Cevoli: "To the great emotion as soon as the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match. It went on for several days. And then we thought about what it was all the way here, the things we had said to each other with the president, the first meetings, all these situations that come to mind when these miracles happen. Yes, let's call them miracles."
How did you convince the team that San Marino is not the weakest national team on the planet?
"By telling them that I had glimpsed qualities in them. They didn't know they were so good and in my opinion, they are, and they could be playing in different categories in Italy and, instead, they remain among the amateurs and we don't understand why.
"Probably because San Marino players are viewed a bit differently in Italy and I regret this."
Your players now consider you a master, but what have you learnt from them and from this experience?
"That with great will you can achieve great things. Something I had already learnt in my career as a player, but they only confirmed to me that what I thought was true: you must never give up.
When did you realise that you could change the history of the Titans? What was the key moment?
"The defeat against Slovakia in a friendly played last June in Austria. They were preparing for the European Championship - which they would play superbly in - and we lost 4-0, a result that could have been considered more than acceptable for San Marino.
"Instead, at the end of the game, my staff and all the boys were angry, aware that they could have done more. That made me realise that the boys wanted to do something important."
From the very first moment, you focused on youngsters rather than an experienced team. Do you think any of these youngsters will be able to follow in your footsteps and play in Serie A one day?
"I think there are some very interesting youngsters. There are some 17-18 year olds, who have incredible qualities. I don't know if they will be able to get to play in Serie A, but I think they can easily carve out a career in important categories in Italy, maybe in Serie B.
"In my opinion, there are three or four who can get there and this makes me very happy and gives me hope that the future of the San Marino national team is not limited to what we have done, but can be even better. There are still great margins for growth in my opinion."
Among the most interesting are the Benvenuti twins, both footballers in Sassuolo's Primavera team and sons of Andrea, European champion in the 800 metres in 1994.
"Exactly. And I would add another thing: even in the lower categories, in the Under-17 and Under-19 teams of San Marino there are very interesting youngsters who are growing. I have no doubt that they will be the future players of the national team."
What does it mean to be the technical commissioner of a national team like San Marino that is made up mainly of semi-professional or, in some cases, even amateur players?
"It has always been a goal of mine to one day coach the national team of San Marino and, therefore, when the opportunity arose and they called me, I didn't think about it for a minute. I think coaching the national team of your country is the best thing that can happen to a coach, so I jumped at the chance."
Resilience, enthusiasm, seriousness, hard work: there is a bit of all this in your philosophy
"Yes, and there is also the great attachment of the guys to their country, to their land. They put themselves on the line every time and it's not easy because many arrive at training after a day's work. It's a bit complicated, but they always put so much passion into it.
"My staff and I would meet in the changing room at the end of every training session and we would always say to each other: 'Mamma Mia how they trained again tonight!' because they have always trained with great desire and determination and this has been their strength."
Is there anyone in particular who has surprised you more than others with their strength of will?
"No, I really struggle because they are all like that: from the youngest to the oldest. They all work with great intensity, with great focus, and with great determination. They do everything, very normal jobs: some are graphic designers, some are warehouse workers, some study at university, and others still go to school. A bit of everything, like anyone their age."
At this point, however, the bar inevitably gets raised a bit. What is the next goal to be cut?
"It's clear that when you get these results there are always bigger expectations, but it's only fair. After what we have done, we are looking forward to measuring ourselves against the slightly stronger teams to see what level we have reached. I think this is a great challenge."
In two months you have achieved more victories than in the entire history of the San Marino national team. Are you a genius or were those who preceded you careless?
'I am definitely not a genius. I don't know if those who preceded me were careless. Now we have won two games in a short time, but the credit must be shared with everyone else, because we started from afar, from when President Tura arrived, so 6-7 years ago.
"They have changed the way of thinking about football, they have developed an important academy for young people.
"In short, it's certainly not just thanks to me. Before me, for example, there was Franco Varrella, a coach I was lucky enough to have when I played in Serie B at Reggiana and who, in my opinion, is a master of football. So he too has made his contribution to changing the mentality of this national team a little."
And who is your maestro?
"Carlo Ancelotti. He taught me a lot of things. I try to imitate him, but I don't always succeed, almost never! (laughs, ed.) He taught me a lot of things, especially in group management. He was an over-the-top coach, you could tell right away and I was lucky enough to have him at the beginning of his career.
"It was his first year in a club team, Reggiana, and we won the championship at the first attempt. He had a way of managing the team that I never found again. It is by no means a coincidence that he achieved everything he did."
