The club shopped Del Piero around quietly, hoping to find a taker abroad. But Del Piero has three years left on his contract, and that would mean that a potential buyer would have to cough up with close to $35 million, plus a transfer fee, for a player who turns 31 in November. At those numbers, there were no takers.

So Del Piero remains trapped with no options. But ever the class act, he doesn't complain.

	MAILBAG Gabriele Marcotti will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

"It's up to the manager to choose his lineup," he says, knowing Capello has no place for him in his starting XI. "That's what he's paid for and it's right that he be free to choose whoever he likes. I'm just a player, my job is to be ready if selected."

Speaking of class act, Owen also showed a lot of honesty in signing with Newcastle. He admitted he was hoping to go to Liverpool but "things did not work out," and that what mattered was that he was "now a Newcastle player."

It could be that Owen and Del Piero are paying a price for their candor and class. Neither has been controversial or aggressive over the years, neither has complained or rocked the boat. If that's the case, it would be a shame.

But don't feel too sorry for them. Between them they'll be making close to $70 million over the next three years. With that kind of paycheck, you forfeit the right to be depressed.

Mailbag

You mentioned that Brazil and France were the only teams to have beaten England in official competition since head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's arrival. I take it you do not consider Portugal's victory over them at Euro 2004 because it was the result of a penalty-kick shootout?
-- Michael Schaefer, Singapore

Exactly. Penalty kicks do not necessarily reflect the relative strength of a team. Portugal arguably deserved to beat England anyway at Euro 2004. But the point is that, in the 90 minutes, it was a draw.

I am a big fan of the Brazilian team and I would like to take your opinion whether head coach Carlos Pereira could make the five formidable guys (Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká, Adriano and Robinho) regular starters. I watched 1970 final two days ago and I thought these guys could fit the same rules of Pelé, Tostão, Gerson, Rivelino and Jairzinho with Emerson playing the role of Clodoaldo.
-- Mahmoud, Amarillo, Texas

Wow. Now that would be a sight to behold: Brazil resurrecting the old 4-1-5 formation. However, I don't think it would work for three reasons: First of all, times have changed; there are more tactically savvy teams these days and such a top-heavy formation would, in my opinion, fall prey to the counterattack. Second, Tostão and Gerson, while extremely skillful, were also very hard-working players who sacrificed themselves to make this system work. I'm not sure Kaká or Ronaldinho could do the same -- I somehow don't see them chasing back and running themselves into the ground. 

Third, while it's easy to forget, Brazil in 1970 had a very strong, athletic back four, with Brito, Piazza and, of course, Carlos Alberto. This Brazil team is not as good in terms of central defenders (apart from Lucio, perhaps). And if Roberto Carlos and Cafu get the nod at fullback, as seems likely, Brazil will be vulnerable on the flanks, as the two of them are 33 and 35 years old, respectively. While Cafu and Roberto Carlos can do their part working with a back three (as they did in 2002), I don't think they can do it in a back four, particularly not one in a 4-1-5 formation. Still, it would be a lot of fun to watch.