Italy tried to lure star Roo
By Cameron Bell
June 13, 2004
AUSTRALIA's $23 million man, Marco Bresciano, has knocked back an offer to play for Italy and re-confirmed his commitment to play for Australia - anytime, anywhere.
As Italy kick off their Euro 2004 bid against Denmark on Tuesday (AEST), Bresciano has spoken to The Sunday Telegraph about his Aussie World Cup dream.
"The Italian coach did a bit of background work on me and found out I was from an Italian background," the 24-year-old said yesterday.
"It's great a coach like that wanted to give me a chance to play for a team like Italy and I was rapt when I spoke to him.
"I know I could be playing in Euro 2004. I've thought about it for sure.
"But, then again, hearing the Australian national anthem and lining up for the Socceroos, nothing can beat it. I mean, I don't even know the Italian national anthem.
"Look, I'm an Australian and I'm happiest playing for Australia. Italy, they've achieved so much and it's probably easy to go into the team and win.
"But for Australia, we have a job to make the World Cup and if we are to make it, it will be the biggest thing ever for myself and Australia."
The goalscoring midfielder is now officially Australia's hottest prospect. He was at the centre of the richest transfer deal for an Australian soccer player when he moved from Empoli to Parma in the Italian Serie A league two years ago.
Socceroos coach Frank Farina rates him as our David Beckham, but Bresciano is much more humble, admitting he gets goose bumps lining up before a game to sing the national anthem or just thinking about playing for the Socceroos in the World Cup.
"You know, sometimes I find myself in the car or the team bus in Italy, drifting off and thinking about the World Cup, and I get goose bumps," Bresciano said.
"I think we can get there. All the preparation we've had, I think we are on a good path playing some good quality sides. The thing is, we have to try to keep the team together as much as possible."
And with so much debate about Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka and their commitment to the Socceroos, Bresciano has made Farina aware that he can always be counted on for national duty.
"Playing for your country is the maximum thing you can do as an athlete," he said.
"I'll always be available to play for the Socceroos. I said that from day one and I'll stick to my word.
"I told my club team Parma that, too, and it's been fine from the start.
"At the moment, it's my off-season, so coming home and being able to play for your country, what a bonus."
There are many pundits in Australian soccer who believe that Bresciano has more talent than Kewell, and his freakish free-kick goal against New Zealand recently merely enhanced his reputation as a superstar of Australian soccer.
Not to mention he was the only Socceroo to find the net against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey.
A $23 million transfer fee and scoring more goals than any other midfielder in the Serie A league last year are further proof of his talents.
"You know about the money, being the Australian involved in the richest transfer deal, but I don't feel like I'm the most expensive. It certainly hasn't got to me," Bresciano said.
"At the moment, I'm just very happy. I'm playing for Australia, I'm playing in the hardest league in the world for Parma and if you can do well in Italy, I think you can do well anywhere."
As long as he's doing well for Australia, that's all that counts.
