People may forget. But in the late nineties, one of the up and coming superstars of football was Alessandro Del Piero. The cool looking Italian with sideburns who played for Juventus, and was to be the heir to Baggio. Going into Euro 2000, that was supposed to be his tournament where he would announce to the world that he was going to be Italy's first true dynamic footballer, who would be an evolution from Roberto B.
A funny thing called injury...knee injury to be precise.
Ronaldo got his and so did Del Piero in 1998. The dreaded knee injury. After that, he just wasn't the same player. He was still quality, and was a magician on the pitch, but that explosiveness was lost. Your legs just aren't able to move with that same kind of electricity that they once were able to. He was able to get back to his old self, somewhat, in preparation for Euro 2000 where he was again the name on everyone's lips and was anticipated to be the next big thing in world football. Italians at home were expecting him to lead the way along with Totti in delivering the European title. The pressure was on, and it was now on his shoulders to carry his country to victory.
It just wasn't to be. Whereas Ronaldo was able to somehow find something special to get it done in 2002, Del Piero came up short. It was in that Euro 2000 final where they were a goal up against France, that the Dellage missed two great chances that were set up by Totti to end the game. Thus, Wiltord equalized, and Trezeguet scored one of the most famous golden goals ever (why they stopped this, is beyond me...thanks FIFA).
In typical Italian fashion, they turned on Del Piero just as they did with Baggion in 94. The game was in their hands and they were fifteen seconds away from being champions. When looking back, the press and the public look at the two great chances that their so-called talisman had at his feet which he wasted. So is the life of the footballer who plays for the national team where the line between praise and ridicule is so thin.
But as I think now, I just wonder what might have been if Del Piero hadn't sustained that injury and he went into Euro 2000 as fresh as two daisies. I am pretty sure he would have put away at least one of those two chances that he had in the final. Then you would have had Italy going into the World Cup in Japan/South Korea as European Champions and with Del Piero now truly being recognized as one of the best players in the world. Let's not stop there though, what about how things could have been different if Del Piero was at his best at that World Cup?
Against Spain, my money would have been on Italy going through again with Del Piero inspiring them, and even against a rather weak German side. As for the final... that may have been a step too far even though Italy would have had the better team because I believe it was written in the stars for Ronaldo to win that cup for Brazil.
Del Piero is still a legend in Italian football and for those like us, who watched him emerge onto the scene during a great time of individual talent, we all know just how unique of a talent he was. How many footballers can speak of an area of a pitch named after them based on the frequency of scoring goals from there? This is what Del Piero brought to football. His own story and his own way of playing, as well as a very distinctive look that set him apart from the crowd. But just with Ronaldo, we never saw him at his very best. A knee injury is just a killer blow. Even if you come back to play, you're not the same player. It's unfortunate that Italy were robbed of someone who could have perhaps gone on to become their greatest ever player. We will never know...
Unless there is an alternate timeline out there...
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HH
