Italy Go Top; Del Piero Puts His Foot in His Mouth

By: Martha | September 19th, 2007

Stupid Ale. First, the good news: As a result of the draw and win in the recent Euro qualifiers, Italy have climbed two spots to the top of FIFA’s world rankings. Woo hoo! (Or, since it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day: ARRRRR!)

The new top three are Italy, Argentina and Brazil, who had been top but had enough points expire to drop two spots. The leading trio has a significant point advantage over the rest of the crowd, but Germany and the Netherlands climbed into fourth and fifth respectively as a result of their performances over the past few weeks, while the French fell two spots to sixth thanks to that loss to Scotland. (Ha-ha.) Spain, Portugal and England all moved up as well, and are now in the seventh, eighth and ninth spots, with England’s sudden decision not to suck making them the biggest movers in the top 10. (For those of you who care, Scotland moved up NINE SPOTS after beating France. Damn. Apparently beating the top teams is worth a whole lotta points in FIFA-ville.)

And now, the bad news: In celebration of his team’s new status as the Best Footballers in the World, Alex Del Piero decided to issue an ultimatum to poor Roberto Donadoni, announcing that he will from here on out play only striker for the Azzurri. Great, Alex. Thanks for that. And he’s not messing around — Del Piero told the press he doesn’t want to be called into the team if he’s going to have to play out wide, thanks very much. Gee, think all the Del Piero Is a Useless Bastard talk in the media is getting to the man?

Even if Donadoni is misusing him terribly, it’s pretty classless for Del Piero to respond to the honor of being in the nation team this way. There are two different issues here — the apparent ineptitude of the Don, and Del Piero’s ego problems. I mean, what, the Azzurri are all about him, now? He cares how the team does, but not enough to just slot in wherever he’s needed? Classy.

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Category: Azzurri, Rumors & News, Serie A

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alessio

And look at all the newspapers now....all calling for him.
Lukos

You say it should be kept internal but that internal battle has been going on for a long time. Thus the only way he could get action was to bring it out in the open. If you get bogged down by the politics then you should fight back however you can.
Jason

Well all i can say is he save italy in the match against mexico and is fourth in all times on goals in the azurri what else can you ask if he's only asking to play in his normal position let me tell you this he loves soccer and loves his national team he still wants to play and has never givin up that is a man that loves his national team ! Coman guys 218 goals in calcio 27 goals with the azurri man more than 500 games in serie a that's it
Martha

Totally agree he has a right to be frustrated, Marco, I just have a major problem when people go to the press with stuff like this. Even if he hates The Don and thinks he's a moron, for the good of the team I think this sort of thing needs to be kept internal. (I realize I'm probably being idealistic, but I just hate when athletes to the press acting all entitled, as if they're owed something by fans/national team coaches/whatever.)

That said, at least he's not yet pulled a Roy Keane and melted down on Donadoni. That I would like to see.
Marco

Well Martha from what you wrote you make him sound like a spoiled brat, which couldn't be further from the truth. Just think how frustrating it is for DP to be criticized by the media for playing badly, in a role he's not very good in in the first place! It's no coincidence that his recent Juve matches have all been top notch, and it's not because he's in a bad run of form, but rather you can't expect him to do well as a left midfielder plain and simple. Put him as second striker and oh magic, the chemistry works again.

Bottom line: I think Del Piero has every right to be frustrated. The way Donadoni is using him is counter-productive both for the team and for himself. He's not playing well in that role, which affects both the team's performance and DP's morale. He's got a good point when he says: "there are better players than me in that position": if that's what Donadoni needs he should call Stefano Mauri or keep playing Di Natale.

In the end, you can't help but feel for Del Piero, who's had a lot of bad luck with the national team, despite all his efforts to redeem his Euro 2000 mistakes (it's almost too obvious press and Azzurri fans still blame him for that).
Martha

HA! Nothing's easy, Francesco.
Francesco

I remember reading the Italian headline and it said: Del Piero- "Never again on the national team..." and I was like "YES!!!!!!", but then I read on and it said "...as a midfielder", and I was like "NOOOOO!!!!"
Martha

Marco that sounds pretty much like the translation I read -- he's telling the press he doesn't want to be called up if he's not going to play striker, right? I don't think I'm being misleading, bad translation or not. (:

Even if he is being played out of position, so what? Take it up with the Don in public, don't go to the papers with your issues. Plus, how many guys would trade places with him in a second? There are a ton of guys in Italy who would be more than happy to play out of position, if only it meant they were called up.
sofia

well hes right i mean come on don is an idiot and is completely misusing him so that is why he seems useless on the pitch to some so i would be pissed too i say ditch donadoni and get someone who actually knows what in the hell they are doing
Marco

Martha, you're making Del Piero sound a lot worse than he does. I'll put that on the account of the poor Google translation. Here's my translation (God, the things you have to do to defend DP around here...)

"If Donadoni can't grant my request, I prefer he wouldn't call me up anymore". Del Piero's position is very clear: "I am a striker, not a midfielder". After Totti's and Nesta's farewell, another important piece of the Azzurri could be leaving the team. Indeed, Juventus's captain is tired of being fielded in an unnatural position, and has openly expressed his feelings regarding the matter.

Alex's declarations are unmistakable, what he wants from Donadoni is a clear & concise choice. Because despite the 27 goals scored for the Azzurri (note: 4th-ranked player in the Italy scoring charts, currently tied with Roby Baggio), Del Piero keeps being the 'sacrificial victim' on a tactical level. Indeed, he seems to be the only player that keeps getting utilized out of position. At this point however, he seems to be ready (albeit with great sadness) to give up on the Azzurri jersey. "It would make me very sad, because I love the national team, and would like to finish this cycle and play one final important competition. My words aren't an 'ultimatum' or 'blackmail', but a simple statement. As a striker I play much better and are able to do certain things... as a midfielder I can't. In that role there are players other than me that feel much more natural, and do their jobs much better".

Del Piero's problem in the national team is old news, all the managers that have sat on the Azzurri bench over the past decade have had a hard time playing him in his ideal role. However, after a career of 15 years in which Del Piero has always been under the eye of the media, and sometimes severely criticized despite he always gave heart & soul on the soccer pitch, Juve's nº10 would like to receive something back. "I've already demonstrated my value". The speech also applies to Juve (the reference is obviously DP's pending contract renewal), but that's another story.
Lisa

Geez. You'd think a senior citizen like Del Piero would have learned by now that you only issue ultimatums when you're in a position of strength. It's not like there's a lack of strikers, so Donadoni can easily turn around and say "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way" and just not call him next time. (And probably should do just that.)
Joe

I needed no further proof that I couldn't stand this selfish prick. ADP has never lived up to his hype with the Azzurri. Maybe Don can show some stones and not call him up any longer.

The only thing I can say in his defense is that Donadoni has in these two match FIFA breaks has twice started him in one match and then banished him to the stands for the next. Obviously, Donadoni is over his head but that does smack of disrespect...and we all know you can't disrespect a Juventino legend.

The whole thing makes me sick.