Del Piero hasn't quite regained his best form since returning from knee ligament damage which kept him out for almost an entire season.

Certainly his goalscoring has suffered and almost all his goals this season have come from penalties.

Many fans blame Italy's failure in France 98 on manager Maldini's insistence on playing a clearly injured Del Piero, but his match-winning capabilities have hitherto made his selection, even if below par, a near certainty.

This may be about to change with Francesco Totti threatening his place if Del Piero can not prove his fitness.