Alessandro Nesta, the 2006 World Cup is yours too

On Wednesday 15 April 1998 , the Corriere della Sera headlines:
At the Olimpico the Biancocelesti, with a less brilliant game than usual, pass thanks to the 1-0 first leg to Madrid. Lazio suffers but hits the Euroderby of Paris. The assaults of Atletico di Vieri are rejected: the all-Italian final against Inter Milan on 6 May. The former bianconero canceled by a relentless Nesta. Negative evening for Boksic and for Mancini’s inspiration
The night before, Lazio will play the semi-final of the Uefa Cup against Atletico Madrid and, despite the 0-0, reach the historic final thanks to the very heavy away victory. AndLogio in the praise, the performance of Alessandro Nesta, 22 years old recently, who towers in the rear and cancels the threat Vieri . Nesta-gladiator, Nesta-implacable, «They have Ronaldo, we have Nesta», Diego Fuser from Lazio lets go, predicting the duel in the final against Inter which will then see the neroazzurri dismount the biancocelesti 3-0.
Two days later, on April 16, the Republic dedicates an entire piece to the Roman boy: “Classe Nesta: my strength and indifference”. And then the attack:
What does a young champion, fresh from a triumphal night, set sail towards the World Cup, called “immense” by his employer Cragnotti and “22-year-old champion” by his coach Eriksson
He gets into his Golf convertible on the day off and goes to his mother, in the countryside, in the house he bought himself with the money he earned as a footballer. Localita Collevecchio, province of Rieti, refuge of the Nesta family since Alessandro began to walk his path. That of the predestined …

Launched with full sail towards the World Cup. That of France 1998. Gia .

Monday 8th January 2007 . The day in which, as the same number 13 had the opportunity to say, Nesta was convinced that he had won the Berlin World Cup.
… Up to that moment in my head a little piece was missing. My cell phone rang, I was in Miami, treating my shoulder after yet another injury in my career. Ancelotti had granted me permission to go to the other side of the world and Milan too. I was not really charged, in fact, nothing was going well on a physical level. I felt like I was condemned to pain, both in the national team and in the club: if I recovered, I would recover badly shortly after. Tiredly, almost annoyed, I replied:
“Hello…”
“Ale, I’m Lippi”
“Mister, what a pleasure”
“The pleasure is all mine. Listen here, hear what’s happening. ”
In the background I heard a warm, important voice. He was the president of the Napolitano Republic. At the Quirinale he was paying homage to the World Champions.
“Ale, we are in Rome, they are rewarding us for the World Cup they won. You are one of us. You understand
You are one of us, one of the twenty-three, never forget it ”
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Nesta and the three World Cup are this. And this is the most faithful icon of his elegant, deadly and crystalline career as a defender. How the slips of him. “All-inclusive” package: the best defender in the world with the risk of leaving you on the most beautiful side. Three times called up for the World Cup as a starter, three times injured.
In France, third qualifying Group B match: Italy 2-1 Austria. Nesta plays only three minutes: a hard fight, an anterior cruciate ligament injury, a six-month break and goodbye dreams. Bergomi enters in his place. A deja vu four years later, indeed, perhaps even worse: still the qualifying Group, and that of G, but it is the second match: Italy – Croatia 1-2. Nesta comes out limping after 24 minutes, the next day and a tam-tam of hopes between infiltrations, rest and prayers. He manages to be on the pitch in the last match of the group drawn 1-1 against Mexico, but will watch from the bench the mocking Korean slaughter with Ahn’s golden goal.
And 2006 arrives. That of the full maturity of Nesta and Cannavaro as central defenders after Maldini abdicated from the throne as leader of the national team. With Buffon, an impregnable department as it actually will be. But for Alessandro the worst enemy is the muscular one. Third Group E match, against the Czech Republic. Seventeen minutes and the coach. Lippi and Dr. Castellacci look at each other, almost heartbroken, while Nesta signals that something is wrong. Distraction to the ileo-pectineus muscle, Materazzi enters and it is the sliding-doors moment of that Italian World Cup. Marco scores after nine minutes, Italy wins 2-0 and wins the fourth World Cup.
The former defender of Lazio, Milan, Montreal Impact and Chennaiyin FC, in the heat, says he does not feel this medal is his. He didn’t believe it until Monday 8 January 2007. That boy discovered by a Roma scout, but moved to Lazio because his father was from Lazio, who made his debut in the national first team at 20 with Arrigo Sacchi and who has definitively said “hello” to the blue on 11 October 2006 in the match against Georgia, that boy who continually adjusted his shiny hairstyle with every blow of his head, who, despite his injuries, won everything. That he timidly raised the Cup together with his teammates almost at fault and in duty towards them. And he made everyone agree: Alessandro Nesta, the perfect storm.