Del Piero, undoubtedly one of the game's greatest talents, has had a rough time in the run up to the World Cup.

His indifferent displays for Juventus this season have seen the Turin fans on his back for sections of the campaign.

Indeed, the stick being dished out even moved national coach Giovanni Trapattoni to plead with Juve fans to get behind their man once again.

There has also been frustration for Del Piero on the international scene where he has never quite managed to put in his best performances.

A knee ligament injury forced him out for almost the entire season in the run-up to Euro 2000. He only started two games at that tournament and failed to register a single goal.

Former coach Cesare Maldini also insisted on playing Del Piero throughout France 98 even though he was not fully fit.

He was clearly not at his best in that tournament with Christian Vieri hogging the limelight for the Azzurri with five goals.

However, if Del Piero sparks into life then he can be a potential matchwinner. He is brilliant from set pieces, powerful on the ball and can score from almost anywhere.