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Maldini helped keep Romario at bay in the 1994 final. Ben Radford/Allsport |
Maldini may no longer be the charging leftback of his younger days, but he remains one of the most talented and perceptive defenders in the world.
He made his debut for Italy in 1988 and he is now the Azzurri's most capped player and a veteran of three World Cups. He will once again be Italy's leader on the field in the Far East.
In a club career spent entirely with AC Milan, Maldini has won three European Cups and six Italian titles. Yet his impressive international career has been characterized by bad luck in World Cups and other major competitions.
In 1990, Italy was on home soil and playing the best soccer in the competition until it ran into the cynical Argentines in the semifinals and crashed out on penalties.
Four years later Maldini deputized impressively for the injured Franco Baresi at sweeper for most of the competition as Italy recovered from a surprise defeat by the Irish in its opening game to reach the final. Returning at leftback, Maldini helped Italy's defense keep Romario and Bebeto at bay for 120 minutes, only to again suffer heartbreak in the shootout.
In 1998, it was penalties again, though this time in the quarterfinals against France, the home side and eventual champion. Italy seemed set for revenge against the world champion at Euro 2000 as it led 1-1 into the dying seconds of the final. But Maldini was to be denied an international title yet again as France grabbed a late equalizer to set up its dramatic win in extra time.
