At the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa several kids, among which Briscola and Pertica stand out, are quite good at playing football, but their conditions are very critical, balls made of rags, broken or missing shoes, clothes worn to the extreme.
Little Lillina, daughter of an industrialist and orphan of her mother, lives raised by a guardian and other dear servants of the house, among which the good butler Tonio stands out.
One day these, challenged by a boy who attends the "Institute", that is the Liceo Ginnasio Andrea D'Oria, agree to play against a real team of students, but they are not in condition, without shoes the game ends in brawl.
To raise funds, our friends set up a stage from which they perform a play, but a thunderstorm puts the down-and-out audience on the run before they manage to collect offers.
Later Tonio, after attending a Sampdoria match, sneaking into the locker room manages to convince Briscola that he has knowledge and familiarity with the players, who actually take him for mad.