San Marino, a national team in turns » Workers on construction sites, business consultants and students come to face Romania
Article by George Nistor – Published Monday, November 17, 2025, 7:12 p.m. / Updated Monday, November 17, 2025, 7:13 p.m.
Things Romania – San Marinowhich will be played in Ploiești, in the preliminaries of the 2026 World Championship, pits two teams from opposite poles of European football face to face. The opponents of the tricolors do not play in strong leagues and have semi-professional status.
The national team of the microstate from the Apennines arrived in Romania with a structure of players similar to that of the friendly with the Czech Republic, lost at the limit, away, final score 1-0.
For some of Roberto Cevoli's footballers, the priority is work, before putting on the jersey of the national team. Others alternate classes with training.
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Romania – San Marino, the last match of the 2026 World Championship preliminaries, will be played on Tuesday, from 21:45, in Ploiesti. The match can be watched in liveTEXT format on GSP.ro and on TV on Antena 1.
Michele Cevoli, unskilled laborer on the construction site
One of the most consistent players of the lot, Michele Cevoli (27 years old) works in everyday life as an unskilled laborer. Central defender registered with the Italian amateur team CBR Carli Pietracuta works in construction and technical works, where he loads, unloads and handles materials.
He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, but life in San Marino did not give him enough opportunities to turn his degree into a career.
50,000 eurosis Cevoli's market share, according to Transfermarkt.com
Dante Rossi, Business Consultant
His colleague in the center of the defense, Dante Rossi (38 years old), had a different path. He works part-time in the area of consulting for companies, after graduating with a Master of Business Administration, one of the most appreciated specializations in company management.
The Argentine-born veteran provides support in process analysis, optimization and organization in the corporate environment. During the day he works on the laptop, in the evening he trains with Tropical Coriano, from the Italian Serie D. He made his debut at the national team at the age of 33, his grandfather being originally from San Marino.
San Marino centre-back Dante Rossi in dialogue with referee Mykola Balakin. Photo: Imago
Lorenzo Lazzari, the most talented, is a student
The young Lorenzo Lazzari (22), who is said to be the “pearl” of the national team, plays as an attacking midfielder and is a student at the Università degli Studi della Repubblica di San Marino, in the field of Managerial Engineering.
His studies prepare him for a future in technical management, logistics and applied economics. He combines classes with training and is considered one of the players who could catch a transfer to Italy.
Lorenzo Lazzari while doing his college homework
Alessandro Tosi, specialist in digital marketing
The 24-year-old left-back plays for Victor San Marino, but his real financial stability comes from his job. He works as a digital marketing specialist where he creates online campaigns and optimizes content.
He has reached 26 caps and is yet to score a goal, while his market share has stabilized at €25,000, according to specialist portal Transfermarkt.
Alessandro Tosi, San Marino. Photo: Imago
Mattia Vitaioli, the dressing room designer
The midfielder from La Fiorita works in a design studio. In the test match against the Czech Republic, the 36-year-old ticked just three minutes, but did not show up at the office the next day at 9:00 in front of the graphic projects because the match was played in Karvina.
It's normal for us. We are ordinary people, we work in offices or factories, nobody sees us as stars.
– Mattia Vitaioli, San Marino midfielder
Alessandro Golinucci, the toy factory captain
The 31-year-old central midfielder is the iconic figure of San Marino football. Every morning, Monday through Friday, he walks into the gates of a toy factory in his hometown, where he works full-time on receiving products, packaging, checking inventory and preparing orders for stores.
The footballer with working hands plays in the shirt of Virtus, a team that fought last season with FCSB in the 1st preliminary round of the Champions League.
Golinucci made history for San Marino by scoring in the first national team's second all-time victory, 1-3 away to Liechtenstein last year in the Nations League.
