Marco Materazzi hopes to fill the hole left in the heart of Italy's defence by the absence of injured captain Fabio Cannavaro – and spur the Azzurri to a remarkable double.
Tantalising clash
The world champions kick off their campaign against the Netherlands on 9 June and, for Materazzi, this presents a chance to swell his impressive trophy haul. Since scoring the equalising goal and one of the sudden-death penalties in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, Materazzi has ridden a wave of success with FC Internazionale Milano and now wants more silverware at UEFA EURO 2008™.
Finals chance
Injury problems reduced the 34-year-old to a bit-part player with the Nerazzurri this term, costing him his place in the national side. However, Cannavaro's misfortune has reopened the door to the former Everton FC man and he is eager to return to prominence, as he did in Germany two years ago when Alessandro Nesta was struck down by injury. "The coach will have to decide whether I play," said Materazzi. "I'm in the squad, like at the World Cup, and will have to take my chance at the right time. I feel as fit as I did two years ago and know what I am capable of, even if I realise I might not play. But being a part of a squad means you have to accept decisions that don't go your way."
'First steps'
Although Cannavaro's ankle injury may offer Materazzi one last hurrah at a major tournament – provided he beats Giorgio Chiellini to a berth in the middle of the back four alongside Andrea Barzagli – the player they call Matrix is taking no joy from his captain's plight. "Fabio took his first steps this morning, but his injury hit me really hard," he said. "When he was at Inter we got on really well and what happened to him was awful."
Ruud awakening
Nonetheless, Materazzi is already sizing up Italy's first Group C opponents and one player in particular is on his agenda: Real Madrid CF striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. "The Netherlands are difficult, well-organised opposition," he said. "They will certainly make us run. I'm already thinking about how to handle Van Nistelrooy. He is someone who can hurt you at any second. I've never had the misfortune to play against him before, but I'm ready for the challenge.
Raring to go
"I still retain the same hunger I had when I won two Scudettoes and the World Cup. I've always been the same – I was not a phenomenon before and I'm certainly not now. And I'm OK with that, because if I wasn't I wouldn't be here. We are working hard and we know that a huge task lies ahead. Most of all, we want to make it a satisfying experience. We are ready and we are raring to go."
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