Trapattoni under fire for leaving Italian boy wonder out

Euroscene: If and when Italy fail to win Euro 2004, do not be surprised to hear the name, Alberto Gilardino, being hissed at coach Giovanni Trapattoni. For many, from football critics through to the 55 million-strong army of would-be national coaches, 21-year-old Parma striker Gilardino ought to have made it into Trapattoni's squad for Portugal, writes Paddy Agnew

When Trapattoni announced the squad last week, there was widespread lamentation at the absence of Gilardino, the season's leading Italian goalscorer in Serie A and the runner-up in the sharpshooters' table, just one behind AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko who scored 24. Various commentators described the choice as "madness", while Rome sports daily, Corriere Dello Sport spelt out the bottom line: "All he (Trapattoni) has got to do now is win Euro 2004. That is the only way he will be able to prove that he is right and the others are all mad. Trap needs to explain to us just how he has left out Gilardino, the best striker of the season, the player currently most in form."

To the neutral observer, both the fact that Trapattoni left out Gilardino and the fuss created by that omission were all too inevitable. Trapattoni is a coach in the old style, someone who believes in forming a solid team and then sticking with it.

Such a coach was never likely to bring in an uncapped youngster right on the eve of the tournament, picking him ahead of players who had been involved in the qualifying run through to Portugal.

Likewise, the sheer brilliance of Gilardino's form this season made it only inevitable that he would become the focus of popular acclaim. Twenty three Serie A goals in a season in which, until January, he was used only sparingly as a reserve for Brazilian Adriano was a remarkable tally. Seventeen goals in the second half of the season and four on the very last day against Udinese only served to underline his progress.

When AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi was ruled out of Portugal by an ankle operation, the pro-Gilardino movement really kicked into overdrive, arguing that the spare place should now go to the latest boy wonder.

All in vain, Juventus reserve Marco Di Vaio got the nod instead. Even if Trapattoni was not overly moved by his performances, some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus and AS Roma, have apparently come looking for him.

When Trapattoni met the press to explain his squad choices Gilardino was clearly one of the day's major topics: "For me, Gilardino is a reserve for both Vieri and Corradi. I could not take a player who hasn't even played a single minute for the senior national team," he explained.

As Trapattoni said, however, Gilardino's turn will come. Already blessed with pace and always mobile along a single-handed front line, Gilardino has to be just about the most improved player in Serie A this season.

Whatever else happens between now and next season, Gilardino is likely to remain in the headlines because he is one of the hottest properties on the Italian market place. You will be hearing more of Alberto Gilardino.