Italy coach Marcello Lippi equaled the world record of 31 successive international games without defeat as the world cup champions drew 1-1 with hosts Greece in Wednesday’s friendly.
Luca Toni equalized in the 54th minute to secure a draw for Italy after Greece’s Fanis Gekas had given the hosts the lead four minutes earlier.
The draw in Athens brought Lippi, who’s in his second spell in charge of Italy, level with Javier Clemente of Spain and Alfio Basile of Argentina.
It also saw Lippi beat the Italian record of 30 set by Vittorio Pozzo between 1935 and 1939.
Lippi’s record covers the duration of Italy’s World Cup winning campaign in Germany when he was in charge from 2004 to 2006.
He was reappointed this year after Italy’s poor performance at the European Championships under Roberto Donadoni.
“The unbeaten streak in itself is meaningless without that important victory,” said Lippi.
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