Azzurri Legends: The Top Strikers
Kelvin Leong gives you his chosen list of the six greatest footballers to have played for Italy during the 90's.
Filipo Inzaghi
One of Italy's best ‘fox-in-the-box' strikers.
Super Pippo made his international debut against Brazil in 1997 and went on to amass 25 goals in 57 appearances.
Inzaghi thrives on balls over the top and he lurks just off the shoulder of the last defender in the hope of catching opponents unaware.
Famed for his theatrical dives and constant complaining to the referees, this goal-poacher has played in four World Cups and was the Azzurri's top goalscorer for the qualifying rounds of the 2002 and 2004 editions.
Pippo sits in sixth place on Italy's top goalscorer list alongside Adolfo Baloncieri and Alessandro Altobelli.
The ultimate compliment for Inzaghi came when Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Pippo Inzaghi was born in an offside position."
Gianfranco Zola
The ‘little genius' from Italy.
Made a name for himself playing as a support striker at Napoli and Parma before gaining a big move to English giants Chelsea.
Never quite transformed his club form onto the international stage but when called upon, showed glimpses of his amazing talent.
Loves to dribble and lure defenders out before releasing the killer pass for his fellow attackers.
Takes a mean free-kick and has some tricks in his repertoire including his renowned back-heel.
10 goals in 35 appearances for the Azzurri.
Christian Vieri
The giant hitman who plays like an old-fashion English forward.
Called up to the national team in 1996 while playing for Juventus and went on to become a great servant for his country with 23 goals in 49 appearances.
Vieri is one of few Italian players to have gained success abroad with stints at Monaco and Atletico Madrid, but his best spell was for Internazionale where he scored a massive 103 goals in 144 games.
Robust and always on the move, Vieri holds up the ball and lays it off most of the time but his right-foot and heading ability are top quality.
Like all Italian forwards, his temper has caused him a lot of problems.
Francesco Totti
Totti. Who is known to most Italians as the ‘Prince of Rome', is regarded by fans as one of the most talented players to have pulled on the famed blue Azzurri shirt.
However, he has never quite fulfilled his full potential with only nine goals in 58 appearances.
Still, he managed to win the World Cup in 2006 playing alongside Alessandro Del Piero, providing a fearsome trident with Luca Toni.
Fans will also remember his imploding personality which got him sent off at the 2002 World Cup against South Korea but it was his spitting incident involving Christian Polsen at Euro 2004 which shocked his nation most.
Azzurri fans will never forget Totti and his legendary status will live on forever.
Alessandro Del Piero
Voted as one of the 125 greatest living footballers by Brazilian legend Pele, Del Piero has spent more than a decade with the national team and is still a key member.
Nicknamed "Il Fenomeno Vero", Del Piero is a one-club man who has wooed the Italian fans with his stylish attack play.
Made his debut at Euro 96 and was widely regarded by most as the heir apparent to Roberto Baggio.
The Juventus forward made the "trequartista" position his own and his deadball prowess is second to none.
27 goals for the Azzurris in 91 appearances.
Roberto Baggio
Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA Player of the Year in 1993, the ‘Divine Ponytail' as he is known, was arguably the best Italian striker of the 90s'.
Made his debut in 1988 and played on until 2004.
His goal tally stands at 27 but it was his influence on the rest of the team that stood out.
When Baggio dribbled, it was like watching poetry in motion.
But sadly, he will be remembered as the man who handed Brazil the World Cup in 1994 when he somehow put the ball over the bar in the penalty shootout.
The Diving Ponytail can never be replaced and to hardcore Italian supporters, Baggio is the best they have ever had.
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