Tacchinardi Makes Claim For Place in Italy Squad
Copyright � 2000 Nando Media
Copyright � 2000 Agence France-Presse
ROME, Italy (February 10, 2000 10:51 a.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - Juventus midfielder Alessio
Tacchinardi has urged national coach Dino Zoff to give him and
Udinese's Stefano Fiore a chance in the Italian national side.
Tacchinardi is enjoying his best season yet at Juventus and
is primed for a call-up for Italy's friendly against Sweden on
February 23.
Fiore was on the fringes of the national side last season
when he was at Parma and has played a key role in Udinese's
solid performance in this year's championship.
"It would be great if Fiore and I were chosen but it's how
we perform on a weekly basis that will make Dino Zoff decide,"
Tacchinardi told Juventus's official website.
"At the moment we are playing well and I think it would be
right to try out some new faces but as far as the European
championships are concerned, I think Demetrio Albertini has
every right to keep his place in the line-up."
Albertini has been enduring indifferent form recently and
has been dropped from the AC Milan first team.
Zoff will also be without suspended midfielder Dino Baggio
of Parma for the match in Palermo and may be tempted to draft in
new players
Italy's midfield is widely acknowledged as their weak area
ahead of the European championships in June.
