Penpix of Italian Euro 2000
squad
June 6, 2000
Daily Soccer
ROME - Pen pictures of the
22-man Italian squad for the European Championships:
Goalkeepers
(Goalkeepers' shirt numbers
subject to change)
12-Francesco Toldo (Fiorentina).
Born: 2.12.71. Caps: 8 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.
Will be number one after Gianluigi Buffon broke his hand in a June 3 friendly
in Norway.
22-Francesco Antonioli (AS
Roma) Born: 14.09.69 Caps: 0. Played 29 times for the Italy under-21 side
but never graduated to the first team despite a handful of call-ups in
the Sacchi era. Owes his place in the squad to Angelo Peruzzi's decision
to turn down an invitation to go to Euro 2000 as Italy's third keeper.
Enjoyed four successful seasons at Bologna before moving to Roma a year
ago.
Christian Abbiati (AC Milan)
Born 08.07.77. Caps: 0. Called up after first choice Gianluigi Buffon broke
his hand in June 3 friendly with Norway. Performed impressively during
Italy's Under-21 Championship campaign.
Defenders
5-Fabio Cannavaro (Parma)
Born: 13.9.73 Caps: 34 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.
6-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.
2-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 European
Cup with Juve in 1996.
3-Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)
Born: 26.6.68. Caps: 105 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.
13-Alessandro Nesta (Lazio)
Born: 19.3.76 Caps: 23 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.
15-Mark Iuliano (Juventus).
Born: 12.8.73 Caps: 5 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:
16-Massimo Ambrosini (AC
Milan). Born: 29.5.77 Caps: 5 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.
14-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.
18-Stefano Fiore (Udinese)
Born: 17.4.75 Caps: 3 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.
17-Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus)
Born: 19.2.77 Caps: 6 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.
11-Gianluca Pessotto (Juventus).
Born: 11.8.70 Caps: 14 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.
4-Demetrio Albertini (AC
Milan) Born; 23.8.71 Caps: 67 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.
8-Antonio Conte (Juventus)
Born: 31.7.69 Caps: 17 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.
7-Angelo Di Livio (Fiorentina)
Born: 26.07.66 Caps 27 Goals 0. The biggest surprise in the squad after
not featuring on the international scene for a year. Known as "little soldier"
for tireless running on right flank and never-say-die attitude. Has just
enjoyed excellent first season at Fiorentina after six seasons at Juventus.
Started career at Roma and spent nine years in lower divisions before joining
Juve in 1994. A good end to the season though forced him in and his experience
could yet get him into the stating side.
Forwards:
10-Alessandro Del Piero
(Juventus) Born: 9.11.74 Caps: 28 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.
9-Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus)
Born: 9.8.73 Caps: 21 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.
19-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.
20-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.
21-Marco Delvecchio (AS Roma)
Born: 07.04.73. Caps: 4 Goals: 0. Tall, lean striker who moved to Rome
from home club Inter Milan in 1996. Often appears awkward on the ball but
has hit 33 goals for his side over the past two seasons. Strength in the
air could prove useful now Christian Vieri has been ruled out injured.
Understanding with fellow Roma strikers Montella and Totti could work in
his favour.
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