Italy lose Del Piero

SENLIS, France, June 9 (AFP)

Italy will be without star striker Alessandro Del Piero for their World Cup opener against Chile on Thursday, giving centre-stage to USA 94 hero Roberto Baggio. Del Piero confirmed the worst kept secret in Italian football on Tuesday when he said he has not fully recovered from the groin injury he picked up in last months European Cup final defeat to Real Madrid. Although Italy had hopes of a miracle recovery, Del Piero quashed them here saying: "Hope is one thing, but objectivity is another." Its become clear over the last few days that theres been a recovery, that Ill be having some tough training sessions ahead but that nevertheless, I wouldnt be ready for a match. "For the next match (against Cameroon) there are eight good days to prepare for it... I hope to make it."  He also made it clear there was no rivalry between himself and his replacement Baggio. "I feel fine about it. I feel like someone whos one of his fans, in the sense that since I cant play, Ill be supporting him. Theres no rivalry. I know him, weve played together and we get on well." As for the notion of them even playing together, Del Piero said: "Anything is possible, the coach has lots of solutions at his disposition."  Some Italian fans are worried that Del Pieros ball skills may get lost when the striker, who is certainly no giant, faces the muscle-bound defenders at the finals. "Certainly, muscles will have an important part to play, its a very intense tournament, youre playing every five days or so and then theres all the travelling from one city to another," he said. "But its not just muscles that make the difference; theres your what happens inside your head, above all, and also your creativity. Del Piero said that morale was good within the Italian squad, although nerves were inevitably creeping in as the opener apporached. The team are relaxed, but that doesnt mean that there isnt any tension or any desire to do well," he said. One aspect Del Piero didnt agree with, though, was the widespread feeling that his club team Juventus have been letting the national side down. Two stars have been ruled out of the finals by injury, Ciro Ferrara and Angelo Peruzzi, and two more are here but are not fit to play-himself and defender Moreno Torricelli. "Its not fair to make generalisations about the Juventus players," he said. "Its a coincidence, and you have to wait until the finals are over before making any judgements like that. " Even club teammate Angelo Di Livio is unlikely to start against Chile in Bordeaux, his place set to go to Inter Milans Francesco Moriero. That would leave Italy in the almost unbelievable situation where the club who have just won the Serie A for the second year running will not have a single player in the national teams starting line-up.

© - AFP - 1998