Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero (49 Viewers)
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Del Piero Blames Pitch For Bad Miss
Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero has blamed the pitch for his glaring miss during the disappointing friendly draw against Austria last night.
The Azzurri took on Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in Nice in what was Marcello Lippi’s first game back in charge of La Nazionale.
However, it was not a fairytale return for Lippi, as Karel Bruckner’s men raced into a shock 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Emanuel Pogatetz and Mark Janko.
Italy fought back to earn a 2-2 draw courtesy of two comical own goals, even if one of these was eventually awarded to Alberto Gilardino, however they could have won the match had Del Piero stuck away a golden opportunity on 53 minutes.
The Juventus frontman beat the offside trap, but with just the 'keeper to beat he curled his effort wide in what was a similar situation to the chance he stuck away against Germany in the 2006 World Cup semi final.
Del Piero was a major disappointment last night, but still received a standing ovation when he was substituted, and he has blamed the playing surface for this missed chance.
"I was delighted with applause of the crowd when I was substituted,” said the 33-year-old.
“It is a good time for me at the moment. That is why I believe that the chance I missed was not my fault but due to the pitch.
“Aside from the jokes, it was not an easy game for us attackers. Austria closed up the space. The position I play is not a problem because when it comes to the national team you must marry a project."
Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero has blamed the pitch for his glaring miss during the disappointing friendly draw against Austria last night.
The Azzurri took on Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in Nice in what was Marcello Lippi’s first game back in charge of La Nazionale.
However, it was not a fairytale return for Lippi, as Karel Bruckner’s men raced into a shock 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Emanuel Pogatetz and Mark Janko.
Italy fought back to earn a 2-2 draw courtesy of two comical own goals, even if one of these was eventually awarded to Alberto Gilardino, however they could have won the match had Del Piero stuck away a golden opportunity on 53 minutes.
The Juventus frontman beat the offside trap, but with just the 'keeper to beat he curled his effort wide in what was a similar situation to the chance he stuck away against Germany in the 2006 World Cup semi final.
Del Piero was a major disappointment last night, but still received a standing ovation when he was substituted, and he has blamed the playing surface for this missed chance.
"I was delighted with applause of the crowd when I was substituted,” said the 33-year-old.
“It is a good time for me at the moment. That is why I believe that the chance I missed was not my fault but due to the pitch.
“Aside from the jokes, it was not an easy game for us attackers. Austria closed up the space. The position I play is not a problem because when it comes to the national team you must marry a project."
I'm very surprised at what goal.com had to say about the game. I watched the game and Ale was actually one of the better players of the game. He had some great touches and was by far the most inventive player on the pitch.
He had one bad miss and a misplaced cross, other than that he did rather well.
I wasn't surprised at the standing ovation at all, he treated the game the way it should have been treated, lightly. He focused on playing nice back heels to his teammates rather than try to win the game.
Those goal.com dickheads will never stop critisizing the guy for some reason.
He had one bad miss and a misplaced cross, other than that he did rather well.
I wasn't surprised at the standing ovation at all, he treated the game the way it should have been treated, lightly. He focused on playing nice back heels to his teammates rather than try to win the game.
Those goal.com dickheads will never stop critisizing the guy for some reason.
It's becoming a usual thing for Ale now 
and that he would scratch on his car "Lippi is gay"
del piero would never be those kind of players who 'blames the pitch' for the miss, he's way too classy for that. at least the guy has a sense of humour, i loved the interview I saw when he said if Lippi didn't take him to the 06 WC he'd sink his boat 
