13 NESTA Alessandro Birth Date: 19 March 1976 Height: 187 cm Weight: 79 kg Position: DF Current Club: Lazio Rome (ITA) Int'l Goals: 0 (as of 27 May 2002) Int'l Caps: 43 (as of 27 May 2002) First Int'l Cap: Moldova ( 5 October 1996)
Profile: In Alessandro Nesta, Italian supporters
can find a bit of solace. Along with Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro, Nesta
forms Italy's rock-solid defence. Nesta has what the other two have: FIFA
World CupTM experience. The trio will be counted upon to lead Italy deep into the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.
The Lazio's defender is just 26 years old and is seen by many as
the heir apparent to Maldini, as the Lazio product has continued to evolve
into a world-class defender.
Nesta made his debut with Lazio at the age of 17. Soon, he was
part of a side that would finish in the top six it Italy's Serie A every
single season. Not until 2000, though, would he celebrate a Scudetto with
the Roman club.
Nesta's defensive skills earned him a quick call-up to the national
team. He made the trip with the Azzurri to the UEFA European Championship
England 1996 but did not play a game. Soon after making his senior debut
against Moldova a few months later, Nesta and Cannavaro would prove to be
the best young defenders in the Italy squad, and Nesta quickly earned the
respect of his comrades.
""Alessandro has won a lot over the last few years and has picked
up a lot of experience very quickly,"" Cannavaro said. ""He makes very few
mistakes. He's always there to help out, and he's used to winning under pressure.""
Nesta's ball control is as good as many of the forwards he shuts
down in Serie A. His vision when he moves the ball out of Italy's third is
extraordinary. At Euro 2000, Nesta was a major part of Italy's run to the
final match. Though the Italians ultimately succumbed to an outstanding France
side, Nesta and the Italian defence nearly carried Italy to the title.
The Azzurri's defender will have the task of stopping tough Ecuadorian,
Croatian, and Mexican strikers in the group stage in Japan this summer, but
if his history holds form, Nesta will come out on top.