Profile

One of Italy's outstanding performers at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Fabio Grosso wrote his name in Azzurri legend by scoring the winning goal in the semi-final against Germany and also converting the decisive penalty in the final shoot-out against France. The pacy left-back lost his place during the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign but his tournament pedigree could earn him a recall to the starting lineup.

A latecomer to Serie A, he was nearly 24 when he made his debut, for AC Perugia, in August 2001.

Made international debut v Switzerland in Geneva, April 2003.

Joined US Città di Palermo halfway through 2003/04 campaign – while Perugia dropped a division from Serie A, Palermo moved in other direction.

Scored important equaliser in World Cup qualifier v Scotland at Hampden Park in September 2005 (1-1); no further goals for club or country until his last-gasp winning strike v Germany in Dortmund.

Joined FC Internazionale Milano after World Cup; won Scudetto but left after one season for Olympique Lyonnais, where he won French league/cup double.

Did you know?

Grosso began his career at Renato Curi, a Serie D club where AC Milan right-back Massimo Oddo also started out – he was an attacking midfielder but Perugia coach Serse Cosmi transformed him into a left-back.