FRANCE: ITALY WILL BE WITHOUT STRIKER ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO WHEN THEY FACE CHILE IN THEIR OPENING WORLD CUP MATCH
Record ID:
342193
FRANCE: ITALY WILL BE WITHOUT STRIKER ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO WHEN THEY FACE CHILE IN THEIR OPENING WORLD CUP MATCH
- Title: FRANCE: ITALY WILL BE WITHOUT STRIKER ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO WHEN THEY FACE CHILE IN THEIR OPENING WORLD CUP MATCH
- Date: 9th June 1998
- Summary: SENLIS, FRANCE (JUNE 9, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. PLAYERS ARRIVING AT ITALIAN NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING GROUND 3. ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO SAYING: "THE LEG IS DOING WELL. IT'S COMPLETELY HEALED AND NOW I'M TRAINING WITH THE TEAM IN AN INTENSIVE MANNER TO GET UP TO FULL STRENGTH." QUESTION: "WILL YOU PLAY AGAINST CHILE ON THURSDAY?" ANSWER: "I REALLY DON'T THINK SO. IT'LL DEPEND ON THE NEXT TWO DAYS." QUESTION: "IF NOT AGAINST CHILE, WHEN DO YOU HOPE TO DO IT?" ANSWER: "AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." (ITALIAN) 4. SHOT OF JUVENTUS' MORANO TORICELLI TALKING TO REPORTERS 5. TORICELLI SAYING: "THE TEAM IS A STRONG ONE IN EVERY AREA OF THE GAME. WE'VE GOT 22 PLAYERS WHO CAN PLAY IN EVERY POSITION SO THERE'S ALL THE CHOICE THAT YOU CAN HOPE FOR. OUR STRIKERS ARE VERY STRONG, DEL PIERO HAS IMPROVED MASSIVELY AND THE OTHERS ARE VERY VERY GOOD." (ITALIAN) 6. TEAM CAPTAIN PAOLO MALDINI SPEAKING TO REPORTERS 7. MALDINI SAYING: "THE EVE OF THE MATCH IS PRETTY QUIET, ALTHOUGH TENSION HAS RISEN SINCE WE ARRIVED IN FRANCE. WE ABSOLUTELY MUST WIN AGAINST THE CHILEAN TEAM IT'S IS A FUNDAMENTAL GAME FOR US TO QUALIFY IN THE FIRST ROUND." (ITALIAN) 8. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF ITALIAN PRESS CENTRE AND PLAYERS Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 24th June 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SENLIS, FRANCE
- City:
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA21Z3650D9731J8U9KQNF6QW98
- Story Text: Italy will be without striker Alessandro Del Piero when they face Chile in their opening World Cup match.
Del Piero is recovering from a pulled adductor muscle and had hoped to be fit for the match in Bordeaux on Thursday (June 11).
But on Tuesday he acknowledged he needed more time and vowed instead to be back for Italy's second group B match -- against Cameroon in Montpellier on June 17.
Del Piero trained with his Italy team mates on Monday for the first time since he picked up the injury in last month's European Cup final.But halfway through the session he drifted away from the squad and trained alone, as he has done since the Italians arrived in France.
Italy now appear certain to start Thursday's match with Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri in attack.Del Piero's Juventus striking partner Filippo Inzaghi and Marseille's Fabrizio Ravanelli are the other forwards in contention for a place in Cesare Maldini's team.
Morano Toricelli said the team was a very strong one and players could easily change positions if necessary.
Captain Paolo Maldini said tension among the players had increased since they arrived in France but they had to win against Chile.
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