He can score with both feet, although his left is his favourite, and is deadly with his head.

But what the fans will be looking for are his celebrations - those tearing runs up the pitch, shirt off, hands to his ears, egging the crowd to cheer louder after he has added to his goal tally.

His deftness of touch and creative vision is so often overlooked, partly because he is subjected to merciless treatment by opposition defenders.

Vieri missed Euro 2000 through injury and endured a torrid time at the 2002 World Cup, despite scoring four of his side's five goals. He found the net three times in Italy's qualifying campaign for Euro 2004.