Applause from all angles for Del Piero

The coach and the players. I don't see what is black and white. The Italian press and the Italian team said they would win the tournament. They didn't and they looked bad in every single game they played. Jinxed tournament? Toni looked slow, clumsy and clueless. His movement was poor and his finishing bad. He has an excellent domestic record but looked completely out of place on the big stage. Di Natale is another good domestic player but somebody who can't translate that onto the national stage. Materazzi had an appalling tournament. Pirlo, Perotta, Camoranesi and de Rossi were weak... if you go through the whole squad no one player, Buffon perhaps, stood out. There is no justification for such consistent bad performances unless of course the players were overratted in the first place. I think we have seen this in Europe too when famous Italian players have struggled in the big games.

Benjamin - was it the coach or was it the players? I do find some of your black and white comments rather annoying. Who are these incredibly overrated players? I saw plenty of players - largely assisted by a clueless manager - who didn't play to their potential in this tournament....this includes Luca Toni who I believe is a quality (well, effective) player but just had a completely jinxed tournament. I read plenty of Italian press and I don't think the team going into the tournament showed any particular smugness etc - sure they talked it up but no more than any other national team would particularly if they'd won the previous World Cup but it was hardly a "football's coming home" level of self congratulation ....if one wants to invoke a previous Euro tournament. I respect your right to have a differing opinion and I'd agree that Italy were woeful in that tournament - but I don't think this means that various players were massively overrated. To not turn up or to be forced to play in a crap style is different to being overrated. Also, I'm with Colin on this - I thought the Euros were brilliant. I was not too disappointed that Italy didn't progress as Spain were worthy winners and the Dutch and Russians played brilliant football in patches too. Each to their own I guess.

I love Del Piero and what he has done throughout his career, and I agree that he is a rare talent. However my two most acute memories of his are failures - his two misses in the second half of Euro 2000 final against my beloved team "Les Bleus". In both instances he was in the clear on the left side with only Barthez between him and the back of the net. Of course, France went on to equalise through Wiltord deep into injury time and then claim the win through a Trezeguet (ironically for many years since Del Piero's partner at Juve) golden-goal screamer in extra time. Italy lost the 2000 European Championship in those two moments where Del Piero's composure deserted him.

Euro's receive less hype in Australia because Australia aren't involved. The Euro's are huge in Europe, guess why. The last world cup was the dullest thing I have ever had to watch, as a whole. Some games were enjoyable, but most were fairly dull. The Euro's, on the other hand, were brilliant (probably because we weren't in it). Apart from the first few games, the tournament sprung into life and it was definitely the most exciting football tournament in recent times. Oh, and Italy were poor.

What you're suggesting then is that you can only judge teams on the WC. That is simply not feasible. Are you European? The championship means a lot to the players and teams and I doubt any football fan would suggest otherwise. The Euros involve a prolongued qualifying period so there is time for coaches to develop a squad and style, so of course you can judge a nation on their performance in the tournament. The Italian press and squad itself was full of how it was their destiny to win, and how the squad was more mature and better than the WC winning side. In actuality it was apparent that various players were massively overrated. The European club tournaments have qualified this as well.

in my own opinion the Euro`s are overated, not the players in them. People say that the Euro`s are great but they are nothing in comparison to the world cup. They are not a big sporting event, I can name loads of sporting events that get more hype than the Euro`s, the world cup, the cricket world cup, the rugby union world cup, the open, the masters in tennis and even the superbowl. In football you can`t just judge a nation from one bad tournament.

Bond Man, because the Euros proved that quite a few Italian individuals were overrated. It was a response to something Colin said.

The Bond Man, I don't know, he had a poor patch a couple of years ago and everyone said he should retire, but look at him now, arguably at his peak, despite being in his mid-30's. Certainly a legend of Italian football. He's sort of player that could go on for a few more years yet as he doesn't have to rely on pace.

Sorry Benjamin, but why are we refering to the euro`s all of a sudden?, sure it was a bad year for the Itallian side but this article started of about Del Piero then it moven on to the indivduals if itallian football but when did the Itallian team come into this?

In the past this man has been a footballing icon and don`t get me wrong he still is a great player but I think that he should one day soon hang up his legendary boots. One of the greatest Itallian players of all time, no doubt, but now he`s not. Great two goals against Real on wednesday but not as good as his goals were five years ago. Well done and congratulations Alessandro but enought is enought. Thanks for the memories, well done mate.

Italy do have a lot of talented players coming through and Rossi never got a fair crack at Manchester United, even though supporters were calling for him to be played. regarding the cash issue, even though English clubs have the most money, teams like Inter and AC Milan seem to spend plenty of money in the transfer market. If you say that Italy went defensive in the Euros then considering you had Cannavaro out, I do believe that wasn't the greatest tactical decsion ever made. The usually reliable Italian defence was pretty shocking and it cost them. I've never been a big fan of Toni, another one of those players that have been over-rated in the Italian press. I like watching teams like Udinese and Fiorentina as they play with verve and swagger but don't seem to be able to mix up their game and are sometimes too one paced. Take the Uefa cup semi-final against Rangers last year for example, they truly deserved to lose that game because they were terrible and couldn't break a limited Rangers team down.

Benjamin re Aquilani, he's trying my patience a bit too. I think he's a super-intelligent and silky-skilled player but personality wise he tends to go in his shell a bit and he too often backs-off from challenges. I can sort of understand the last point as he does seem rather injury-prone too but it sends out the wrong message to both your team mates and the opposition. I'm still hoping he'll come good. cheers

Fair enough Vicentin. I blame the coach for the Euros. He made some bewildering decisions. I'd like to see more of Giovinco but I'm not the greatest fan of Aquilani to be honest.

Colin and Benjamin, fair enough each to their own. On the Roma V Chelsea example I'd agree - the score didn't truly reflect the game but hey this I don't really think the much talked about Man U Roma game was a true reflection of the differences in those teams either. If I remember correctly Alan Smith and Darren Fletcher got on the scoreboard and so did Carrick I think - when these guys actually look good I don't think it is just the quality of the opposition but frankly something to do with the way the planets aligned that day. It is no surprise to anyone that Roma and Fiorentina don't have the squad depth (money) to match the big four in England but I think they're doing quite well to be where they currently are. Inter should do better, but then again they are Inter and I am hardly disappointed by the continued incompetence. I genuinely believe it is a strong Serie A this year. Despite not having the wealth of the Prem or La Liga there is some great football teams and footballing talent this season. Inter, Milan, Juve, Udinese, Lazio, Napoli have all had their moments this season and very few of the teams are overtly defensive - lots of goals this season. Regarding the national team at the Euros I have to admit that I was very disappointed in their performances. Donadoni after having got the team playing some decent football in the qualifiers became the cliched defensive Italian manager come the finals. The over-reliance on Luca Toni (good player but doomed to not scored in the finals) via pointless long balls to him was infuriating. The general team selections were similarly lacking in imagination. Italy does have the players but, all respect to Lippi, even he has been quite conservative in his selections. Hopefully this will change during his "second coming" and we'll see move of Giovinco, Guiseppe Rossi, Aquilani and numerous other names.... cheers

Actually I have a subcription to Calcio and watch Serie A regularly Vicentin so I think I'm reasonably qualified to pass judgement. I think even the most one-eyed Italy fan would confirm that Totti has never achieved for the Azzurri. It is all well and good being a great club player but true greatness requires more. Roma beat Chelsea but the score did not reflect the actual game. Look at how Arsenal embarrased Milan in Milan last year. How Man Utd destroyed Roma last year and even the general mediocrity of Fiorentina in the Uefa final last year. Italian teams have not threatened in Europe for a long period now. The recent Euros served only to qualify this.

I have watched a lot of top serie A games and I was quite frankly bored but that doesn't detract from some of the skill levels of some of the players. Even so players like Totti are good players but they just don't do it to regularly enough at the top level to justify world-class status, like so many Italain pundits say they are. He is a good distributor of the ball but most top players should be and more, but unfortuantely Totti doesn't do enough to go along the likes of Ronaldo, Messi or Kaka ever. I agree being English that we hype our players up too much but being a fan of a lower league team, I couldn't really give one if people are slagging Gerrard or Lampard off. You also arguably contradicted yourself by saying that Chelski were embarassed by Roma yet said that Fiorentina dominated Bayern despite losing 3-0. But so did Chelski against Roma. From what I saw as a neutral was Chelski dominating possession against a Roma team low on confidence. Credit to Roma though, they took their chances but they are unlikely win the CL, where as Chelski may do IMO.

Colin N and Benjamin - Overhyped? Compared to whom - English players perhaps? Quite ludicrous comments. To slag-off Totti is to not have watched him enough - although I'd agree he's gone missing in some games he generally absolutely bosses them when on form - this is a bit of double-edged sword for Roma because they are so reliant on him. Regarding the World Cup for god's sake that was some of the most intelligent football I've seen from a cripple in major competition. The guy had got back from surgery on a broken ankle - he still had a steel plate on it during the tournament, and was subsequently quiet unfit and relatively immobile. He therefore adapted his game so that he could play to his "other" strengths and was a fantastic distributor of the ball. His contribution to Italy success in that tournament should not be underestimated. Serie A is actually pretty good by the way if you bothered to watch it with any regularity ... so much so that the domestically woeful Roma (it saddens me no end) still managed to embarrass Chelsea during the week and a rather workmanlike Juve (about eight squad players currently injured) have managed to beat Real twice recently. Fiorentina even dominated Bayern over their two recent games (yes even the 3-0 loss) but are paying for their naivety at this level. Inter continue to disappoint - but I'm cool with that ;0) Del Piero is going through a purple patch. Never the fastest of players (but quick feet) I thought he'd really slowed down over the past few years but amazingly looks speedier again - that's impressive. One in a long line of brilliant Italian No 10s!

de Rossi is pretty special Colin, Buffoon too, although I do agree with your comment that their domestic game and subseuqently the players are over-hyped.

Scott b you are right in saying he will never play for another italian club that's for sure. Del Piero has a freeflowing style about him and he would indeed fit in Barca and possibly Arsenal. But that will never happen. Not that i mind. Juventus is one of the world's finest clubs anyway. Cannavaro moved because of his performance in the 2006 world cup. He was the best player in the tournament which coincided in him winning the Balon De Or. He must have felt that he needed to achieve everything he could in club football, and that is why he signed with Madrid. I mean, Juventus was relegated so i can't blame him for looking after no.1

Most italian footballers are overated IMO, but Del piero is the one player who has consistantly done it for club and country for a number of years. Totti has never done it in the biggest games. Please don't mention the world cup because he didn't play well despite scoring that penalty against Australia. Although he's not Italian, their fans always rave about how good Mutu is, but I've never seen him play that well any game. Italian fans seem to over-rate their players and I would say that Del Piero is the only current player they would have a case for being truely world-class at the highest level.