Del Piero's star in the ascendancy

June 17, 2002
UEFA.com

Written by Andrew Warshaw

With his swept back hair and penetrating brown eyes, Alessandro del Piero has long been one of Italy's footballing heart-throbs. But like so many sublimely gifted players who never quite achieve immortality - think of Roberto Baggio - something in Del Piero's make-up has prevented him from fulfilling his talents consistently for his country.

Old Lady's favourite son
Del Piero might have had his ups and downs with any number of coaches - both for club and country - but for sheer technical invention andd awareness in and around the box, there are few more potent players in his position. Although he seems to have been around for years, he is still only 28, an age at which many forwards come into their their prime. Four Italian league titles have come his way plus a UEFA Champions League trophy, all with his beloved Juventus FC.

Big occasion
Now he has chance to better all those achievements by winning the FIFA World Cup with Italy and making up for the disappointment of losing the EURO 2000™ to France by a golden goal. First, of course, his country have to put paid to the Korean Republic to reach the quarter-finals - no easy task given the surprising results this World Cup continues to serve up. But Del Piero is a man for the big occasion and none come much bigger than Tuesday's clash in Daejeon.

Quick play
"Certainly there is a bit more tension for this game than for our previous matches," said Del Piero as he looked ahead to taking on the Koreans. "Hopefully, once we get out on the pitch, that will ease. We have got to be a very tight unit because they break very quickly. Perhaps for some people, Korea have already achieved what they set out to do but having got this far, they will want to go further."

First-team chance
Del Piero looks like being given the chance to make sure that does not happen. On Monday Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni gave the broadest hint that he would start with Del Piero alongside Christian Vieri as a reward for scoring the 85th minute equaliser that gave Italy the precious point they needed against Mexico to advance to the last 16. If Trapattoni does go for Del Piero he will still be taking a gamble, given the fact that the Juventus striker was something of a flop in France four years ago and has been left on the bench for all three of Italy's group games so far in this tournament. Trapattoni's preference for Francesco Totti of AS Roma has left Del Piero something of a forlorn figure at times in the Italian camp, though he has taken his predicament on the chin.

Lengthy conversations
"I have been out of the side but I never gave up," said the Juventus forward. "I have felt in good shape even though I have not been starting and I think I could do well alongside Vieri because for two years we played together at Juventus." Trapattoni wants Del Piero to fight for the collective cause as well as produce his trickery in and around the box, an issue that has been discussed at length between player and coach. "I told him what I wanted from him," said Trapattoni. "I was very transparent and he showed he is available to take on the role."

Role-playing
That means tracking back and helping his defence when necessary, rather than remaining in the last third - a potentially crucial role on Tuesday. "The thing is, he is neither a playmaker nor an out-and-out striker," said Trapattoni. Italian fans will hope he can fulfil a little of both.
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