Italy invites Argentina to match dedicated to pope

(April 03, 2013) Dedicating a football match to Pope Francis, Italy has officially invited Argentina to play a friendly game in Rome on Aug. 14, that coach Cesare Prandelli hopes will be preceded by an audience for both squads with the newly elected Pontiff. The Italian football federation announced that it sent an invitation Tuesday to the Argentine federation. Pope Francis is from Buenos Aires and is a well known football fan. The match, if Argentina accepts, would likely be held at Rome's Olympic Stadium (Stadio Olimpico), a short drive from Vatican City.
Italy's last match with Argentina was also a friendly one in Rome, in 2001, which Argentina won 2-1. Before that, Diego Maradona's Argentina knocked host Italy out of the 1990 World Cup on penalties in a memorable semi-final match in Naples.
AP