Italian star Alessandro del Piero has vowed to exorcise the ghosts of Euro 2000 when the Azzurri begin their Euro 2004 Group C campaign in Portugal next week. In the 2000 final in Rotterdam, Italy were leading France 1-0 when substitute del Piero squandered two glorious chances to kill the match. Italy were made to pay when Sylvain Wiltord equalised in stoppage time and then David Trezeguet, ironically his strike partner at Juventus, scored a golden goal winner for the French.
Del Piero, who has never reproduced his outstanding club form in a major tournament with Italy, hopes to set the record straight in Portugal.
He said: "All 23 of us have a desire. I have mine as well which is to make amends for Rotterdam."
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
