++ [ originally posted by ZAF3000 ] ++
Well you have a point there. Del Piero was a starter even when he was not performing. But lets look back into the team that Lippi coached and the team that Capello is coaching:
Lippi:
1- Del Piero, Trezeguet, Kovacevic, Salas
2- Del Piero, Trezeguet, Miccoli, Divaio, Zalayata
1) Salas was always injured, and Kovacevic was hmm how do I put it.....
2) Del Piero during that season had several injuries and did not even play regularly. On the same time, Di vaio was getting 20 offsides per game.
Now Capello:
Del Piero, Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic, Mutu, Zalayata
Please be fair now, do you really think that if Lippi was coaching such a team and a player was not perforimg he will keep him playing. I know Lippi believes in Del Piero, and to tell you the turth I really see where he is coming from. They go way back. Del Piero was like a lucky star for Lippi. They were together for like 7 years and have won the scudetto 5 times together along with CL trophy and several CL finals, Intercontinental cup and other trophies (around 13 if I am not mistaken).
Capello is coaching a team that has 5 top class forwards. Saying that Ibrahimovic is better than Del Piero is not true, and vice versa. One day Alex is on form the other Zlatan. One day Mutu is one form the other its Trezeguet..