In focus/Italy: A couple of weeks ago, I ran into living legend Dino Zoff, the man who not only captained Italy to a World Cup triumph in 1982 but who also coached Italy at the Euro 2000 finals. After an exchange of pleasantries, the painful subject of that last gasp defeat by France in the Rotterdam final four years ago reared its ugly head. "What a pity, Dino. Italy couldn't really have played any better in that final against France than they did. You did everything just right, except for those final 30 seconds," I suggested.
"What do you mean, 30 seconds? There were only 20 seconds left when they equalised," came the immediate reply, followed by a hearty laugh.
As Italy prepare for Euro 2004, the bitter memories both of that Rotterdam final and of Italy's World Cup debacle two years ago form the background to the nation's expectations. Having gone so close four years ago and having so under-performed in South Korea two years ago, the time has now come to deliver.
Traditionally, Italy arrive at a finals tournament with a tough, competitive squad. Euro 2004 should prove no exception with the overall squad quality being such that Italy simply have to start among the favourites.
Anyone who saw Italy struggling to a 2-1 defeat against South Korea in Daejoon or against Wales in a Euro 2004 qualifier might find such optimism puzzling. Indeed, if we were stuck in a time warp, dating back to the October 2002 morning after that Millennium Stadium debacle, it would be hard to make a convincing case for Italy.
Yet, the reality is that coach Giovanni Trapattoni and his squad look stronger, more united and more determined than ever.
The World Cup flop and the subsequent defeat by Wales marked a low point, with the former precipitated by Trapattoni's all too obviously misplaced defensive tactics and with the latter brought on by a loss of squad faith in the coach.
But with Trapattoni finally confirmed at the helm, Italy recovered from that low point to put together a 10-match unbeaten run (including four wins and one draw in five qualifiers) that saw them both win their Euro 2004 qualifying group and at the same time re-establish their international credentials.
Several factors make the case for a successful Italian run in Portugal.
Firstly, the wily Trapattoni is unlikely to repeat the errors of his 2002 World Cup campaign. In Portugal, his knee-jerk defensive attitudes (remember the substitution of Alessandro Del Piero by Genaro Gattuso in the elimination by South Korea) are likely to give way to a more attacking (by Italian standards) approach. This latter consideration is underwritten by several of the players, with AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta recently telling The Irish Times: "Maybe we were too defensive in South Korea but that has changed now, we will play differently at Euro 2004. I think Italian football has changed a lot in recent seasons, becoming much more attack-minded. You cannot just line up one striker and four midfield ball winners like coaches used to do. Just look at my Milan, we've played some terrific, attacking football this season and I think you will find that Italy will, to some extent, follow that example."
Secondly, the all-round quality of the Italian squad can only instil confidence. This is a side with outstanding talent in each department - Gigi Buffon in goal, Nesta in defence, ball winners such as Cristiano Zanetti, Simone Perrotta and Gattuso in midfield, not to mention Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri, Antonio Cassano and Del Piero in attack.
Thirdly, there is the very real sensation that for Italy's key player, AS Roma schemer Totti, this could be the tournament of his life. At 27 years of age, Totti has reached a level of physical and mental maturity that has seen him play the best football of his career with Roma this season. Furthermore, unlike at both Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup, Totti comes into this tournament as the unquestioned standard bearer. If ever he is to deliver on the international stage, then this summer in Portugal offers a glorious opportunity.
Some commentators might argue that Italy's first-round draw in a group along with Denmark, Sweden and Bulgaria represents another reason for optimism. Certainly coach Trapattoni had no hesitation in admitting his relief that Italy had avoided such as reigning champions France, host country Portugal, as well as the Czech Republic and Holland in the first round.
And there's the rub. On the negative side of the Italian equation, one has to take into account a traditionally slow tournament start, often prompted by the weight of expectation and by endless media speculation as to the ideal starting line-up.
Certainly, that was the case in 1982 and again at the 1994 World Cup finals - as if Irish readers need reminding.
Furthermore, it is insulting to solid and established sides such as Denmark and Sweden to suggest that Italy has benefited from an "easy" draw. Certainly, as experienced a campaigner as Denmark's Thomas Helveg, a player who has 11 seasons of Serie A behind him, gives his side every chance in the all important Italy v Denmark opening game in Giumares on June 14th.
"We've beaten Italy before and I really think we can do it again", he said recently, adding: "I was happy about the draw because Italy is a side that we know really well, not just me because I play in Italy, but all the lads. I suspect that they will be under more pressure than us and we tend to do well in those circumstances when there is no pressure on us.
"Then too, they have the problem of having to drop star players, guys who are automatic picks for their clubs, and that can create a lot of problems for them. If that were to happen, it would certainly be good for us."
Helveg, too, will know that, for once, this is an Italian side with a large question mark about its defence. It says much about Trapattoni's worries on that score that, right until the last, he tried to persuade AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini to come out of international retirement, just for Euro 2004.
Trapattoni's concerns are understandable and start with his first-choice central defenders, Fabio Cannavaro and Nesta.
Cannavaro, the team captain, has struggled for two seasons now, dealing with side effects of a micro-fracture in his right shine bone, a fracture not at first detected. Nesta, likewise, has had an injury interrupted season.
Even Trapattoni's probable first choice full backs, Christian Panucci and Gianluca Zambrotta, both prompt concern. Despite his formidable club record, Panucci has never looked like the rock on which to build defensive solidity while Zambrotta is basically a right-sided midfielder converted to left back to fill the void left by Paolo Maldini's abdication.
In attack, too, Trapattoni has his difficulties, admittedly prompted by an embarrassment of riches. Does he stick with his original, ideal first-choice strike force of Totti, playing behind Vieri and Del Piero or does he draft in AS Roma's gifted youngster Cassano, at the expense of Del Piero? Reputation and experience point to Del Piero, while form clearly points to Cassano.
Trapattoni comes from an old-fashioned school of coaching which argues that it is best to stick with players tried and true, those who pulled off the qualification for you. For that reason, he may start with Del Piero in preference to the twice capped Cassano. Italian fans can only hope that if and when Cassano's chance comes - assuming that Del Piero under-performs - it does not come too late.
Ironically, both Zoff and Cesare Maldini had their "Del Piero Problem" too. At France 98, Maldini insisted on drafting a less than fully fit Del Piero back into the team at the expense of a brilliantly in form Roberto Baggio, in the process hastening Italy's elimination.
Four years ago, Zoff brought on Del Piero as a second-half substitute (for Stefano Fiore) in the final against France only to see the Juventus ace miss two golden opportunities to wrap up the final with the score at 1-0 in Italy's favour.
Perhaps the biggest question mark of all, however, concerns Totti. He is a playmaker of sumptuous talent, gifted with vision, intelligence, eye-catching technique and a recent goalscoring knack (20 goals in Serie A this season). He is the fulcrum of the side, with his first-time through balls to Vieri and his overall distribution being amongst the most powerful weapons in the Italian armoury. All Italy expects. If Totti fails to deliver, then Italy could be in trouble.
Notwithstanding all the reservations, Italy have to start as among the favourites for outright victory.
This point is not lost on coach Trapattoni who says simply: "I have already said it and I repeat it now that we are among the favourites for the title but only if we arrive at the opening game in Portugal with our players in good condition. I have a huge urge to prove that I can do well with Italy at a finals tournament. After the disappointment of the World Cup, I'd really like to make up for that and do well this time."
