International Career
With Italy Bergomi won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and also played in the 1986 and 1990 campaigns (being team captain in the latter), as well as UEFA Euro 1988. Alongside the likes of AC Milan legend Franco Baresi and Juventus FC's Antonio Cabrini and Gaetano Scirea, he formed the backbone of the national team's defence for much of the 1980s, making his debut on 14 April 1982 in a 0–1 friendly loss in East Germany, aged only 18 years and 3 months; in the victorious World Cup run in Spain he appeared in three games, including the full 180 minutes in the last two matches.
After being sent off in a match against Norway in an Euro 1992 qualifier, Bergomi spent years without getting a callback to the Azzurri, but received a surprise recall for the 1998 World Cup, at nearly 35, after playing 28 times in the league and leading the Nerazzurri to the UEFA Cup – his third and last; despite playing in four World Cups, he failed to make one single appearance in qualifying stages.
Interestingly, Bergomi never played in a World Cup qualifier but played in four tournaments (1982 World Cup- made his debut post qualification; 1986 World Cup- Italy qualifid as holders; 1990 World Cup- Italy qualified as hosts and he was a late call up for the 1998 World Cup having been overlooked for the 1994 campaign).
Read more about this topic: Giuseppe Bergomi
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“A black boxer’s career is the perfect metaphor for the career of a black male. Every day is like being in the gym, sparring with impersonal opponents as one faces the rudeness and hostility that a black male must confront in the United States, where he is the object of both fear and fascination.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)