Players pool for Italy's Euro 2000 squad

May 13, 2000
SportsServer

ROME - The Italy squad for Euro 2000 is likely to be chosen from the following players:

GOALKEEPERS
Gianluigi Buffon (Parma). Born: 28.1.78 Caps: 14 Goals: 0. Made league debut at 16 and became Italy's second youngest goalkeeper of all time when he made his full debut in 1997 as a substitute against Russia in a World Cup playoff in Moscow. Hailed then by Dino Zoff as most promising keeper in the country, he has lived up to the billing since. UEFA Cup winner with Parma a year ago.

Francesco Toldo (Fiorentina). Born: 2.12.71. Caps: 7 Goals: 0. One of the few Fiorentina players to emerge with flying colours from their disappointing season, Toldo has been linked with a move to Lazio after Euro 2000. Nurtured at AC Milan, he made a handful of Italy appearances in the Sacchi era before disappearing from sight. Now firmly established as Buffon's stand-in.

Angelo Peruzzi (Inter Milan). Born: 16.2.70. Caps: 26 Goals: 0. Formerly Italy's No.1 goalkeeper, missed the 1998 World Cup due to an injury just days before the finals and has since ceded his place to Buffon. Stocky shot-stopper who joined Juventus from AS Roma in 1991 before following Marcello Lippi to Inter Milan last year.

DEFENDERS 
Fabio Cannavaro (Parma) Born: 13.9.73 Caps: 33 Goals: 0. Hard-tackling Naples-born defender who established himself in 1997 and had an excellent World Cup in France. A UEFA and Italian Cup winner a year ago, "Canna" played every minute of every match in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2000. Fast replacing Paolo Maldini as the heart-throb of teenage girls across Italy.

Paolo Negro (Lazio) Born: 16.04.72 Caps: 7 Goals 0. Pacey right-back in his seventh season at Lazio after failing to find a place in the first teams at Brescia and Bologna as a teenager. Appeared set to join Real Madrid two years ago but stayed in Rome. Regular in Zoff's squads but has not played since late 1998 and could well watch Euro 2000 from the sidelines.

Ciro Ferrara (Juventus) Born: 11.2.67 Caps: 47 Goals: 0. Gritty, experienced centre-back who joined Juventus in 1994 after decade at Diego Maradona-inspired Napoli. Missed France 1998 with a broken leg and only returned to Zoff's set-up late last year. Integral part of Juve's rock solid defence this season. Won a European Cup winners medal with Juve in 1996.

Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) Born: 26.6.68. Caps: 104 Goals: 7. Italy's standard bearer for a decade, Maldini could surpass Zoff as the most capped Italian of all time this year. League debut for Milan at 16, has made left-back position his own for both club and country. Written off two years ago but proved in the qualifiers for Euro 2000 his grace under pressure is still invaluable. Father Cesare captained Milan to victory in 1963 European Cup final and later coached Italy.

Alessandro Nesta (Lazio) Born: 19.3.76 Caps: 22 Goals: 0. Developed as a junior at Lazio and has pledged his future to them until at least 2004. Voted sexiest player in Italy in a phone poll earlier this season. Tall and lean, is at his best pushing out of defence.

Christian Panucci (Inter Milan) Born: 12.4.73. Caps: 21 Goals: 1. Out of favour with previous coach Cesare Maldini but back in the frame now he is in Serie A after a spell at Real Madrid. Forceful rightback who played for Genoa and AC Milan before his move to Spain. Chances of playing at Euro 2000 depend on Zoff's tactics. Won the European Cup twice with Milan (1994) and Real Madrid (1998).

Giuseppe Pancaro (Lazio) Born: 28.8.71 Caps: 4 Goals: 0. Tireless on the left flank for Lazio for the past three seasons following his move from Cagliari. Bearded Calabrian with a fierce long range shot. Made his debut against Croatia in April 1999.

Mark Iuliano (Juventus). Born: 12.8.73 Caps: 4 Goals: 1 Six seasons in Serie B and C before stepping up to Juventus four years ago. Seemingly ungainly centreback who neverthless has held his own in the formidable Juve back four this season. Made his Italy debut last November and scored a rare goal in April's 2-0 defeat of Portugal in April.

MIDFIELDERS 
Diego Fuser (Parma) Born: 11.11.68 Caps: 25 Goals: 2. Out of favour in the Maldini years but a favourite of Zoff's from their days together at Lazio. Experienced right-sided player who gives extra width to Italy's midfield. Started career at Torino then moved to Milan and Fiorentina before settling at Lazio for six seasons. Now rounding off his career at Parma.

Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan). Born: 29.5.77 Caps: 4 Goals: 0. Blond-haired midfielder who has emerged at Milan this year after four seasons at the San Siro. Farmed out to Vicenza for a year in 1997-98, has also suffered from serious knee injuries. Made his Italy debut in February this year.

Luigi Di Biagio (Inter Milan) Born: 3.6.71 Caps: 15 Goals: 2. Italy's hero-come-villain at France 98 -- their best player for much of the tournament but missed the penalty which condemned them to defeat against the hosts in the quarter-finals. Shaven-headed tough tackler who made his name at AS Roma before surprise move to Inter last summer.

Stefano Fiore (Udinese) Born: 17.4.75 Caps: 2 Goals: 0. Calabrian-born midfielder who spent four years on the fringes at Parma before moving last summer to Udinese, where he has flowered. Can play both in the centre and on the left. Made debut against Spain in March and could well emerge as Italy's midfield saviour at Euro 2000.

Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus) Born: 19.2.77 Caps: 5 Goals: 0. Tenacious right-sided player who has fulfilled the promise he showed at Bari in this, his first season at Juve. Another of Zoff's inexperienced but keen midfielders, made debut for the Azzurri in friendly against Norway in February 1999.

Alessio Tacchinardi (Juventus) Born: 23.3.75 Caps: 3 Goals: 0. In his sixth season at Juve but has only come to the fore since the departure of Didier Deschamps last year. Started career at Atalanta Bergamo in 1992. Italy debut in February.

Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan) Born: 9.1.78 Caps: 2 Goals: 0. Pitbull midfielder who moved to Milan a year ago after his Salernitana side were relegated. Won the hearts of Ibrox with his gutsy performances for Rangers from 1997-99 after starting career at Perugia. Keen rugby union fan.

Gianluca Pessotto (Juventus). Born: 11.8.70 Caps: 13 Goals: 0. Workaholic utility player, as happy in defence as in midfield and can switch from left to right at will. Rejected by AC Milan as an 18-year-old, has found a home over the past five seasons at Juve where he is seldom in the limelight but often in the starting line-up. European Cup winners medal in 1996.

Demetrio Albertini (AC Milan) Born; 23.8.71 Caps: 66 Goals: 2. One of the Milan old guard alongside Maldini. A lynchpin of Italy's midfield for a decade since his debut in 1991. World Cup runner-up in 1994, has dipped in form this season and was dropped by both Italy and Milan for the first time in years after a rough patch in February.

Eusebio Di Francesco (AS Roma) Born: 8.9.69. Caps: 12 Goals: 0. Left-sided midfielder who came late to the international scene after an unspectacular 12 seasons at Empoli, Lucchese and Piacenza. Brought out of the shadows by Czech coach Zdenek Zeman at AS Roma in 1997.

Antonio Conte (Juventus) Born: 31.7.69 Caps: 16 Goals: 1. Sturdy former Juventus captain now in his ninth season with the Turin side after seven at hometown Lecce. Made his debut under Sacchi in 1994 and is now back in contention after missing almost all the 1996-97 season through injury. Another 1996 European Cup winner with Juve.

Paolo Vanoli (Parma) Born; 12.8.72 Caps: 2 Goals: 1. Started life as a defender in the lower divisions before blossoming on the left side of the Parma midfield at the end of the 1998-99 season when he scored in both the Italian and UEFA Cup finals. Also scored on his Italy debut in November. One of the best crossers of the ball in the squad.

FORWARDS 
Christian Vieri (Inter Milan). Born: 12.7.73. Caps: 20 Goals: 10. The world's most expensive player has been hampered by injuries at Inter but remains Italy's deadliest weapon. Built like a heavyweight boxer, "Bobo" is the perfect foil for the nimble talents of a Del Piero or an Inzaghi. Brought up in Australia, he rejected a career as a cricketer to embark on a nomadic journey to nine clubs in the past nine seasons. Five goals in five matches at the last World Cup.

Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) Born: 9.11.74 Caps: 27 Goals: 9. Hailed as Italy's boy wonder three years ago but flopped at France 98 and has still to find his form again after missing most of 1999 after an operation on torn left knee ligaments. Brilliant on his day but currently second fiddle to the more workaday but prolific Filippo Inzaghi. Won European Cup with Juventus in 1996.

Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus) Born: 9.8.73 Caps: 20 Goals: 6. A terrier-type forward with a poacher's instinct for goal -- has scored 26 for Juve this season (as of April 29). Top scorer in Serie A four seasons ago with lowly Atalanta Bergamo before his move to Turin. Leading Italy scorer of the Zoff era with six strikes.

Vincenzo Montella (AS Roma) Born: 18.6.74 Caps: 3 Goals: 0. Neat little forward who moved to AS Roma a year ago when his Sampdoria side were relegated. Previously at Genoa and Empoli. Youngest of five brothers, almost had to give up soccer in 1993 due to a heart infection. Roma's top scorer this season, is known for his trademark "aeroplane" celebration of each goal.

Francesco Totti (AS Roma) Born: 27.9.76 Caps: 12 Goals: 1. Roman born and bred, made his debut for the side he supported as a child at the age of 16 and has been there ever since. Prefers the playmaker's attacking midfield role but can also fill in as a more conventional striker. Italy debut in Zoff's second match in charge in October 1998. Scored his first international goal against Portugal in April.
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