Alessandro the great
Friday 4 October 2002
By Jim Wirth
http://www.uefa.com/magazine/News/Kind=512/newsId=36725.html
That Juventus FC's Alessandro Del Piero is one
of the most talented strikers in European football
is beyond dispute and two goals against Newcastle
United FC on Tuesday night saw the 28-year-old at
the height of his powers.
Terrific return
Nine goals for Italy and Juventus in the 2002/03
season - plus another two for Juventus in their 2-1
Italian Super Cup victory against Parma AC - have
marked a terrific return for the all-action striker
who remains as much a provider and front-line
defender as a scorer of spectacular goals.
'A magic moment'
"It is a magic moment, I have never started a season
like this before," said Del Piero after Juve's home
victory over Newcastle. "But I am obviously even
happier for the team because we have started the
season so well."
Champions League record
When Del Piero scored a record ten goals in the
1997/98 Champions League, many believed that the
Treviso-born striker - who joined Juventus in 1993
after just 14 games for Serie B club Padova Calcio
-had reached his absolute peak.
Debilitating injury
As if to underline that, Del Piero received a nasty
knee injury during the following campaign which seemed
to have put his best years behind him. His ability
from free-kicks was undiminished and Juventus's faith
remained devout, but goals proved hard to come by.
Goal famine
He scored just once from open play in the 1999/00
season and was humiliated after missing crucial chances
to seal victory for Italy against France in the final
of EURO 2000? In his defence, Del Piero was nowhere
near being fully fit, but that was little comfort for
Dino Zoff as he stood down as coach at the end of the
tournament.
New freedom
For many, Zinedine Zidane's departure for Real Madrid CF
marked the beginning of a revival in Del Piero's fortune,
as the striker returned to the limelight in the 2001/02
season and began to demonstrate his sumptuous striking
skills again.
Cruel fates
However, once more the fates conspired against him as
he had to pull out through injury before Juventus's
vital tie at Bayer 04 Leverkusen where a 3-1 defeat
effectively cost them a place in the quarter-finals.
Depressing conclusion
As Italy tasted disappointment again at the 2002 FIFA
World Cup finals, the destiny of both the national side
and its most naturally gifted striker seemed to be
inextricably linked. Both had talent to burn but their
luck tended to fail them at the vital moment.
Inspiring performance
However, against Newcastle on Tuesday, all such memories
were put behind Del Piero. A terrific free-kick and a
fine finish from 15 metres secured a 2-0 win and only
Shay Given's crossbar denied the striker a hat-trick,
and what would have been one of the goals of the season
- a sensational angled drive from all of 25 metres.
'Special goals'
Coach Marcello Lippi was certainly thankful for his
striker's skills after the game. "Newcastle played
very well tonight and we needed those two special goals
from Del Piero to beat them - and he provided them,"
he said.
'A special player'
"It is very difficult to say whether he is in his best
form ever," added Lippi. "But what I can say is that he
has finally fully recovered from the bad injury he suffered.
He is a special player and they take a bit longer to get
back to their peak."
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╰○︵′ Piero zone!
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※ 編輯: mkopin 來自: 218.162.177.44 (10/05 11:23)