the most serene republic

San Marino is the third smallest nation in Europe behind Monaco and Vatican City. It is about 23 square miles in area with a population of 30,000. Founded in 301 AD by a Christian stonemason fleeing religious persecution from Roman Emperor Diocletian, San Marino is the oldest constitutional republic in the world still in existence today. San Marino also holds the record for the world's first democratically elected communist government which ruled between 1945 and 1957.

The tiny nation now holds another interesting record. This week their national soccer team endured the worst defeat in European Championship history. (Qualifying rounds for Euro 2008 have already begun. Europe's national teams, 50 in all, compete in qualifiers until only 16 teams remain. These 16 will play in the summer of 2008 for the European Championship).

So, this week Germany beat San Marino 13-0. The 13 goals were the most scored in the European Championship and the 13-goal margin was also the largest in the competition. It was also Germany's biggest away victory in its history. To score 13 goals in a 90 minute soccer game means the losing team is literally one of the worst teams on the planet. Thus, it figures that San Marino is ranked number 191 among the 197 national teams ranked by FIFA.

That said, San Marino sounds like a cool place. I'll make sure to stop in and get my passport stamped the next time I am passing through Italy, whenever the hell that is...