Del Piero primed for action

June 17, 2002
Reuters

Written by Gideon Long

TAEJON, South Korea - Italy's Alessandro Del Piero says he is more than ready to play a part in his side's World Cup clash with South Korea, regardless of whether he is named in the starting line-up.

The Juventus striker's late equaliser in Italy's 1-1 draw with Mexico in their final group match has increased pressure on coach Giovanni Trapattoni to name the popular forward in his team.

Trapattoni told reporters on Monday that he had yet to decide who would start alongside Christian Vieri in Tuesday's second round match in Taejon, but he has fielded Del Piero alongside Vieri in Italy's last two training sessions.

Asked how sure he was of starting, Del Piero, aware of the difficult selection choice Trapattoni faces, chose his words carefully.

'I'm sure that I am always ready,' he said. 'It doesn't matter whether that is as a player in the starting line-up or from the bench like last time.

'I think that's the case with (Filippo) Inzaghi and (Vincenzo) Montella and the other lads too.'

DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES
Trapattoni has experimented with a number of different alternatives alongside Vieri.

Francesco Totti started all Italy's group matches, Del Piero came on as a substitute in two of them, Inzaghi has started one and made a late appearance in another while Montella made his tournament debut against the Mexicans.

Del Piero said Italy's attack boasted 'more diverse ingredients' that the South Korean forward line.

'Our forwards have technical ability, strength, speed, imagination and they're dangerous in the area,' he said. 'When a coach has an abundance of choice it shouldn't be a cause of concern to him.'

He said the Koreans reminded him of the Japanese, who held Italy to a 1-1 draw in a friendly late last year, and the United States, whom Italy beat 1-0 earlier this year courtesy of a Del Piero goal.

'They're very fast, very quick at breaking from the back and they have two or three players of real quality,' he said.

'Maybe for them, judging by the huge celebrations they've had, getting to the second round was a big thing in itself,' he added.

'But the fact remains that they're here now and they come into this match fired up by their success so far. Those are the things they'll draw upon for strength.'

Meanwhile, Italy will wait until the last possible moment before deciding whether defender Alessandro Nesta is fit to play.

Nesta is continuing to suffer from a badly bruised foot and says he has only a 50-50 chance of being able to face the Koreans.

'I haven't trained since the Mexico game on Thursday but we will have to see how it is tomorrow,' said Nesta.

'We will have to weigh things up tomorrow but I am still hoping and I am getting better day by day,' added the defender.

Should Nesta fail to make it, Italy will be without both their regular central defenders as Fabio Cannavaro is suspended.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni told reporters that Mark Iuliano was the 'natural alternative' if Nesta was absent.
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