Del Piero has a score to settle with doubters

VOTED Italy’s most popular player in a recent poll, Alessandro Del Piero could be forgiven for showing frustration when asked whether he feels overshadowed by team-mate Francesco Totti.

Instead, the 29-year-old Del Piero paused, smiled and summoned up the appropriate diplomatic response. “Totti is Totti and I am Del Piero,” he told a press conference yesterday. It seems to be a ritual part of the build-up to Italian participation in a major tournament that Del Piero’s ability, form and state of mind are brought into question.

At the 1998 World Cup in France, Italy was divided over whether Del Piero or Roberto Baggio should be in the attack.

The pressure might have affected the Juve forward who failed to score as Italy were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the hosts. Two years later, at Euro 2000, Del Piero was blamed by many for Italy’s “golden goal” loss in the final to France after he missed several good chances.

Although his goal in Japan against Mexico ensured Giovanni Trapattoni’s team made it out of the group stage at the 2002 World Cup, Del Piero again struggled to perform at his best as Italy were humiliatingly defeated by co-hosts South Korea.

This time around there were even some in the press who suggested he might not make the final squad of 23 after a poor end to the Serie A season.

Yet, Del Piero, a sensitive individual who at times looks genuinely hurt at questions about his form, says he has become accustomed to dealing with his doubters. “It’s been like that since I started playing the game,” he said, “and it is not just with Italy it is the same being number ten for Juventus.

“I am always under the microscope, whether we win or lose, but honestly, I feel calm and secure,” Del Piero added.

Trapattoni is expected to start with Del Piero operating in what amounts to an old-fashioned inside-left position with Totti in his preferred central role.