A thread about Italy's #Euro2000 journey. The first tournament I've watched. The final is left out for obvious reasons.

Only thing worth mentioning from the final is #Totti backheel that lead to #Delvecchio goal. And I still don't understand why #Pippo #Inzaghi was dropped.

A quick summary of the qualifying campaign. #Zoff regularly used #Panucci #DinoBaggio Fuser #DiFrancesco and #Chiesa but dropped them all for the final tournament.

#Pippo #Inzaghi & #Vieri were #Azzuri top scorers with 3 goals each. Vieri & Buffon missed out due to injury.

Final squad:

1. #Abbiati (Milan).
2. #Ferrara (Juve).
3. #Maldini (Milan).
4. #Albertini (Milan).
5. #Cannavaro (Parma).
6. #Negro (Lazio).
7. #DiLivio (Fiorentina).
8. #Conte (Juve).
9. #Inzaghi (Juve).
10. #DelPiero (Juve).
11. #Pessoto (Juve).
12. #Toldo (Fiorentina).

13. #Nesta (Lazio).
14. #DiBiagio (Inter).
15. #Iuliano (Juve).
16. #Ambrosini (Milan).
17. #Zambrotta (Juve).
18. #Fiore (Udinese).
19. #Montella (Roma).
20. #Totti (Roma).
21. #Delvecchio (Roma).
22. #Antonioli (Roma).

First match: #Turkey 1-2 #Italy

Italy: #Toldo; #Zambrotta #Cannavaro #Nesta #Maldini #Pessotto; #Albertini #Conte #Fiore; #Totti, #Inzaghi.

Conte scored an overhead kick & #Pippo Inzaghi from a penalty he won.

#Iuliano #DelPiero & #DiLivio came on.

Second match saw the same line-up except with #Iuliano starting and #Maldini shifting to LWB as #Azzuri downed #Belgium 2-0 to secure qualification.

Goals were a header from Totti & a long shot from Fiore after a one two with #Pippo. Toldo was superb.

#Italy 2-1 #Sweden

#Zoff went for heavy rotation as #Azzurri were qualified. #Toldo; #Pessoto, #Ferrara, #Negro, #Iuliano, #Maldini; #DiLivio, #DiBiagio, #Ambrosini; #DelPiero, #Montella

Del Piero assisted Di Biagio with a corner then scored a screamer. Sweden were wasteful.

#Azzuri qualified top of the group to defeat #Romania 2-0 in the quarters.

#Zoff was back to his starting 11: #Toldo; #Zambrotta, #Cannavaro, #Nesta, #Iuliano, #Maldini; #Albertini, #Conte, #Fiore; #Totti, #Inzaghi

#Totti & #Pippo scored 2 goals in quick succession to put the #Azzuri ahead. #Fiore & especially #Albertini made the beautiful assists. Pippo also hit the post & missed sitters. Defense & #Toldo were very solid against a resilient #Romania that kept attacking after #Hagi saw red.

The semis were of course a legendary match where #Italy defeated hosts #Netherlands on pens.

An iconic match that had everything. Relentless attack vs relentless defense. Italy a man down since 1st half after Zambrotta's red. Netherlands miss 2 pens & overall miss 5 out of 6.

Of course, this match is also famous for the iconic #Totti #Cucchiaio in the only match he didn't start.

#Zoff opted for: #Toldo; #Zambrotta, #Cannavaro, #Nesta, #Iuliano, #Maldini; #Albertini, #DiBiagio, #Fiore; #DelPiero, #Inzaghi.

#Pessotto, #Delvecchio & Totti came on.

I chose to ignore the final. I hope you've enjoyed this piece of nostalgia in what was overall a wonderful tournament & a solid showing from a young #Azzurri generation that would form the core of the #WorldCup2006 winners.

Follows, retweets & likes greatly appreciated.