Following Trap's selections a few players had some comments to make:
Pippo hurt by Trap snub
Tuesday 18 May, 2004
Pippo Inzaghi’s hopes of recovering in time for Euro 2004 were dashed by his absence from the squad and the Milan man isn’t hiding his bitterness.
“I am very disappointed,” said the striker who underwent ankle surgery a fortnight ago, “because we won’t have the chance to evaluate my condition with Italy’s medical staff.”
“I think that my hard work for the Azzurri in the past at least earned me the right to be seen, especially after my goals in the recent qualifiers to reach this tournament.”
Inzaghi became the first Italian since Paolo Rossi in 1982 to score an international hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Wales.
Although Giovanni Trapattoni’s list is not yet final, it doesn’t look likely that he will reconsider Inzaghi’s position before the June 2 deadline.
“I am very relaxed,” assured the Rossoneri hero. “I tried everything I could to recover quickly, working on my physiotherapy eight hours a day.”
“I did it because I had been assured by the Coach that I would be called in to the squad in order to prove my fitness ahead of June 2. I am disappointed and really wanted to be a part of this team.”
The former Juventus striker has been struggling with injuries all season, but surgery to remove scar tissue from his ankle seemed to clear up the problem.
Nonetheless, Marco Di Vaio has been brought along instead of the still recovering Inzaghi.
“I certainly wasn’t going to demand a first team shirt,” he added, “and I’d have been the first to take a step back if I wasn’t 100 per cent fit for this tournament. But I wanted to be part of this experience and hope to be there in the future.”
With new generations of strikers such as Antonio Cassano and Alberto Gilardino breaking through, it might have been the last chance for 30-year-old.
“I will be in front of the television cheering on Italy with all my heart,” he concluded. “I wish my teammates all the best and hope they can make this dream we all shared – to become Champions’ of Europe – finally come true.”