Zoffs all history for Italy

SENLIS, France, June 8 (AFP)

Italy veteran Giuseppe Bergomi admitted on Monday that todays stars are no substitutes for the heroes of his first World Cup finals back in 1982. Bergomi, recalled at the age of 34 after a fine season with Inter Milan, was a moustachioed 18-year-old when Dino Zoff skippered the Italians to victory in Spain. Today, the similarities and the differences between 1982 and 1998 are all too clear to the defender. And although the squad may be the same size, the egos certainly seem to have altered. "Its different teams, difference times," he said. "Zoff was a great personality, someone who didnt talk all that much but who set the example. And there were other big personalities like Tardelli, Gentile...There arent people like that here. In this squad, its the three AC Milan players-Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini and Demetrio Albertini-who are the heart and soul. Costacurta is someone who is really committed in training, and is an example to the younger players coming up, Maldini is simply extraordinary, with all that he has achieved in his career and Albertini is tactically a very intelligent player."  But as for the supposedly changing game, he said: "Its changed in terms of training, and in terms of the press. But in football, its not as if theres a huge amount that can be invented." Even before 1982, Italy had a tradition for being a major player at the World Cup finals, and Bergomi believes that should be an added advantage here in France in the weeks ahead. "Tradition counts for a lot because its something that gives you confidence and inspires respect in the others," he said. "They feel something when they play against teams like Italy or Germany." Bergomi is meanwhile looking forward to a season in Italy and Europe with a Dream Team attack of Ronaldo and Roberto Baggio, who has been re-born at Bologna after two years in the doldrums with AC Milan. "Baggio and I train together and I can tell hes looking good, hes physically in good shape and thats the most important thing. And the other thing is that youve got to hand it to him for what hes done." He stuck at it when the going got tough, he never gave up and thats important. And he got his reward. He took a gamble by going to a provincial team like Bologna but its a gamble hes won. "Hes got back his place in the national team and hes scored a lot of goals. Thats something on top of his virtues as a footballer. With Ronaldo, it could be an extraordinary partnership."

© - AFP - 1998