EURO 2000: Can Zoff start Italy's 'Pinturicchio'?

June 20, 2000
SportsServer

By Gideon Long

GEEL, Belgium - Alessandro Del Piero's late winner in Italy's Euro 2000 of Sweden forced his coach Dino Zoff to address a problem that's been bubbling for months.

Does he field the Juventus forward in the quarterfinals or does he stick with the strike force that served Italy so well in its opening two matches?

If Zoff were looking for a popularity boost, Del Piero would be the first name on his team sheet.

No player in Italy's squad arouses quite the same passions back home as they man they call "Pinturicchio" after a Renaissance painter famed for his delicate frescoes.

At his best Del Piero can pry open any defense in the world with his changes of pace, unpredictable footwork and perfectly weighted passes.

For many, he is no less than the heir to Roberto Baggio.

But Zoff is nothing if not a pragmatist and when Italy start its quarterfinal match in Brussels Saturday, Del Piero will almost certainly be back on the bench.

AS Roma forward Francesco Totti and attacking midfielder Stefano Fiore were irresistible in Italy's group B defeat of Belgium while Del Piero's Juve teammate Filippo Inzaghi is also likely to keep his place.

"Del Piero has created a few positive doubts for me and I'm happy about that," Zoff said after Monday's match. "For now, leave me with those positive doubts and then we'll see."

Del Piero was pleased with his performance and his first goal in open play for Italy since October 1998, a superb shot from the edge of the area in the 88th minute.

"This match wasn't an exam for me," he said. "It was a match like the other two, the only difference being that in the first two I didn't play much whereas today I played for the whole game."

"I'm happy from a personal point of view but also pleased that the coach has now got another option."

In truth, Zoff would be entirely justified in leaving Del Piero on the sidelines again this weekend.

The Juventus player has never truly rediscovered his form since he tore cruciate knee ligaments in 1998 - five months after his mediocre performances at the French World Cup.

In 41 appearances for Juventus last season he scored just three goals in open play. His other eight strikes all came from the penalty spot.

Del Piero's admirers rightly point out he creates as many goals as he scores and he has shown glimmers of his brilliant best during Italy's practices in Belgium this month.

If he does rekindle the astonishing form he showed in the 1997-98 season, when he inspired Juventus to the title and European Cup final, then Italy will be a handful for any side at Euro 2000.

Whether he plays or not, Del Piero appears set to remain the symbol of the inventive, expansive Italy side which Italians have not seen for many a year.

"Dear Zoff," Gazzetta dello Sport editor Candido Cannavò wrote in an appeal in Tuesday's newspaper under a photograph of Pinturicchio celebrating his goal.

"Find a place for this '12th man' who, with a touch of quality and imagination, can propel Italy toward the final."
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