From the papers

February 24, 2000
Juventus Official Site

The Gazzetta dello Sport dedicates its lead headline to the Bianconeri strikers Inzaghi and Del Piero who shared a little tête-à-tête over who would take the spot-kick. "Inzaghi and Del Piero fall out," runs the headline. Each goes on to put his side of the story with Pippo stating, "I left it to Ale and I hope this clears up any misunderstanding after Venezia." However, Del Piero made it clear that he was the regular penalty-taker. "My name's on the ball," he stresses, "but I get on well with Inzaghi."

The Corriere dello Sport throws a different slant on the episode with the news that Del Piero's goal was the 200th scored by a Juventus player for the national team. Meanwhile, Tuttosport claims that national team coach Dino Zoff had to intervene, with the argument over who should have taken the spot-kick continuing in the changing-room.

There is better news from France where the Gazzetta comments on Zinedine Zidane's winner against Poland. "Zidane turns it on in front of the old guard," runs the headline. Ex-Juventus stars Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek were present to witness Zidane´s match-winning display.

Leaving the international scene and the Inzaghi-Del Piero rumpus, the dailies begin their build-up to Sunday's big clash between Juventus and Roma. Bianconeri coach Carlo Ancelotti claims in the Gazzetta that there was more bitterness between the two teams, age-old rivals, back in the Eighties. "Juventus as a club have done much to overcome this," he claims.

However, the Rome-based Corriere is not about to let the rivalry die. "There is a plot against Juventus," it claims. "It may seem absurd, but that's what Juve think: referees, the media and just about everyone are out to break the Agnelli monopoly."

Tuttosport is also anticipating fireworks. Its headline just about sets the mood for the encounter: "Sunday evening the bunker comes up against the frontline of attack." The paper also throws in some transfer speculation ahead of the clash: "Oliseh swap for Cafu." True, or just Tuttosport feeling obliged to fill its daily quota of ill-founded rumour-mongering? We think the latter.
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