Remembering Alessandro Del Piero’s Tumultuous International Career

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: November 12, 2016

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Alessandro Del Piero is often identified as the greatest player ever to pull on the famous black-and-white-striped shirt of Juventus, a living embodiment of the spirit and style of Turin’s grand Old Lady.

His contribution to the history of the Bianconeri and connection with the club’s supporters was discussed at length in a previous post, with his birthday earlier in November offering the perfect opportunity to recall Del Piero’s sheer brilliance.

Yet as fondly remembered as he his for his contributions at club level, the same cannot be said of his time with Italy. Indeed, if Juve’s monochromatic colour scheme brought the best from Del Piero, then for many years, the royal blue of the Azzurri appeared to act as his kryptonite.



His talent was recognised from an early age, with Del Piero representing his country at under-17, under-18 and under-21 level, making a total of 29 appearances and scoring 16 goals but never helping those sides to clinch any honours.

Having made his debut for Juventus in 1993, he would wait almost two years for his first full international appearance. Arrigo Sacchi handed him his maiden cap at the age of 20. The former AC Milan boss introduced the young striker during a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Estonia on March 25, 1995, with the Azzurri running out 4-1 winners.

Playing another match in that same group in November of that year, Del Piero netted his first goal for Italy, a deflected effort against Lithuania. He followed that up with an assist for Gianfranco Zola just minutes later, with the former Chelsea and Parma man netting a hat-trick and leading the team to the 4-0 victory shown below.



Del Piero had made a good impression, prompting his inclusion for the tournament proper in England. In the first of many international disappointments, a start against Russia marked his only appeara...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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