Juve expects Zoff's call

February 16, 2000
Juventus Official Site

Carlo Ancelotti could be missing as many as seven players when he gets down to work after Sunday's away game at Venezia. Dino Zoff will announce his Italy squad to face Sweden in Palermo on Wednesday only after the completion of this weekend's fixtures, leaving the Juventus manager to expect a serious depletion of his ranks.

Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero should be part of the Italy squad in the Euro 2000 finals this summer, especially in view of recent comments by Zoff. The national coach underlined his confidence in Del Piero who is still to rediscover his goalscoring touch since returning from a cruciate ligament injury last autumn, while Inzaghi remains crucial to his attacking plans.

Also in contention for a 16th cap on Wednesday week is Antonio Conte, though the Juventus captain is currently labouring with a calf problem, and defenders Ciro Ferrara and Mark Iuliano could be rewarded for their contribution this season to the best rearguard action in Serie A.

Then there is Alessio Tacchinardi. Zoff was thought to be interested in linking the Juventus midfielder with Stefano Fiore of Udine, but Tacchinardi could have harmed his chances by picking up the suspension which rules him out on Sunday.

Gianluca Zambrotta is another Italy regular in the making; certainly recent form suggests that Zoff would dismiss the former Bari player at his peril. But if Zambrotta doesn't get to add to his trinity of international caps, team-mate Gianluca Pessotto could be just the man to profit. The wing-back has been with the Azzurri since 1996 when he earned the first of 11 caps against Georgia.

The Italy party will gather next Monday at Coverciano in anticipation of Wednesday's international.
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