On October 10, 1998, the historic Olympic Stadium in Rome hosted a crucial Euro 2000 qualifying match between Italy and Switzerland. This encounter was particularly significant as it marked the international debut of a rising star, Francesco Totti. Despite having scored fourteen league goals for Roma, Totti had been controversially overlooked by Cesare Maldini for the 1998 World Cup in France. Unlike previous tense meetings between the two nations at the Olimpico, this game unfolded smoothly for Italy, largely thanks to a brilliant brace from Alessandro Del Piero. Totti, coming on as a substitute for the Juventus captain, immediately showcased flashes of his immense talent with a couple of exquisite plays.
Totti, affectionately known as `Il Pupone,` later recounted this memorable occasion in his autobiography, `Un capitano` (A Captain), published in 2018 and co-written with Paolo Condò. He vividly described his feelings: “When Zoff called me from warming up because it was time to enter the field, I thought that moment was a kind of graduation. I wouldn`t just be a good footballer, capable of playing in Serie A for my city`s team. If, wearing the Azzurri shirt, I managed to win over fans of other clubs, those who didn`t share my allegiance and therefore wouldn`t love me unconditionally, then I would become a champion.”
Squads
Italy (4-4-2)
Buffon; Panucci, Cannavaro, Maldini, Torricelli; Fuser, Baggio, Albertini; Di Francesco (61′ Bachini), Inzaghi, Del Piero (70′ Totti).
Coach: Zoff.
Switzerland (4-3-3)
Hilfiker; Vogel, Vega, Wolf (65′ Chassot), Henchoz; Rothenbuhler, Wicky (86′ Celestini), Sforza; Mueller, Sesa, Chapuisat.
Coach: Gress.
