“I WAS ONCE IN THE SAME HOSPITAL ROOM THAT GAZZA HAD BEEN IN – THE ONE WHERE HE SHOT AT JOURNALISTS”

Italy had reached the 1994 World Cup Final, so how did you rate the Azzurri’s chances of success going into Euro 96?

Even better than in 1994. We’d been together as a squad for a long time and were capable of playing really good football. Expectations were high – particularly after the first match, which we won. Unfortunately, we got knocked out by Germany and the Czech Republic – two teams at our level, even though they both got to the final. We have a lot of regrets.

In your first match, you scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Russia at Anfield. What was it like to bag the winner in front of the Kop?

I’d loved English football ever since I was a kid. I used