LAST WEEK, on the first day of Italy's Euro 96 training camp, a journalist, from Italian state radio, RAI, asked team coach Arrigo Sacchi: "Do you intend to follow the advice of the 55 million potential Italian team coaches out there and pick Enrico Chiesa for your team at the European Championship?"

To play or not to play Chiesa, that is the question. The international soccer community may have been stunned to read that coach Sacchi had omitted Roberto Baggio, Gianluca Vialli and Giuseppe Signori from his squad for next month's finals in England, but a majority of Italians were more relieved to note that he had included the uncapped Chiesa.

Scorer of 22 goals this season for Sampdoria, Chiesa has been the revelation of the year. Equipped with explosive pace, able to hit 30 yard, top corner of net "sizzlers" with either foot, and equally effective as a wide midfielder cum winger or as a central striker, Chiesa could be poised to step into the hallowed tradition of last minute Italian dark horses such as Paolo Rossi and "Toto" Schillaci.

Remember that before his explosion is to the international scene as a partner for Roberto Bettega at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Rossi had played in just two friendlies for Italy. Schillaci was equally inexperienced at international level before the Italia 90 World Cup, having played in only one friendly. Yet he came on as a substitute in Italy's first game and ended up as the tournament's leading goalscorer.

Lest anyone have any doubts about Chiesa's claims on an Italian shirt, he recently received an untypical stamp of approval from no less an authority than former AC Milan and future - Real Madrid coach, Fabio Capello. After watching Chiesa score two goals against his league title winning side in a 3-0 defeat, Capello said: "Chiesa is a real talent and I suspect he will be the big surprise of the European Championship. Just at the moment, there isn't a better striker around."

Chiesa's inclusion in the Italian squad named last week came as no surprise. Coach Sacchi had already called up the Sampdoria striker for squad sessions while he made no secret of his high opinion of Chiesa after watching him score both goals in a 2-0 Sampdoria away win against Internazionale last month, saying: "Chiesa played an absolutely perfect game."

These days, Capello and Sacchi, both former AC Milan coaches, do not agree on much. However, even their professional jealousy cannot divide them on Chiesa.

These are, of course, heady times for Chiesa. His call up to the Euro 96 squad was the first of two significant confidence votes received last week. Last weekend, Parma put down the money where others have been laying on the hype when, agreeing to buy him from Sampdoria for $15 million, while offering him a five year contract worth an annual $1.6 million after tax.

Enthusiasm for Chiesa, it seems, knows no bounds. Sampdoria's experienced Swedish coach, Sven Eriksson, is a man who generally keeps his feet firmly on the ground when analysing footballers. Yet, even he resorts to hefty praise when asked about Chiesa: "For his pace, technique and sharpshooting, Chiesa is the best Italian striker of the moment . . . He's a player of pure class, one of the best I've ever coached."

Sebastiano Rossi, the AC Milan goalkeeper, says: "He's tremendously quick on his feet and in his movements and the big problem for a goalkeeper is that he's able to strike with equal facility with either foot." Given all the hype and enthusiastic comments, you might ask, how come Chiesa has appeared on the scene only now, as a 25 year old? Originally apprenticed to Sampdoria as a 16 year old, Genoa born Chiesa's rise to the top has been blocked both by the odd injury problem and by the lack of a serious chance with a big side.

After three seasons with Sampdoria when he, played in only one Serie A game, Chiesa was sent off to learn his business at fourth division Teramo and third division Chieti before playing with second divison Monza and first division Cremonese in the two seasons prior to rejoining Sampdoria last summer.

Chiesa himself is convinced that extra training and work outs with weights have made him a stronger, more robust player, saying: "When I was a kid, people were always telling me that I was a weakling and that I'd have to get stronger if I wanted to make it in soccer.

Perhaps a confidence inspiring run has helped Chiesa's game more than sessions with the weights. He remains an intriguing possibility who may well get his chance given the fitness and form doubts about both the Juventus pair, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Alessandro Del Piero. Another Rossi, another Schillaci?

"No, those are important memories . . . but just coincidences," says Chiesa. Time will tell.