• Giuseppe Bergomi made his international debut in 1982, and played 81 times for Italy

• He is fondly called ‘The Uncle,’ due to his prominent eyebrows and moustache

• Bergomi retired a one-man club, having spent his entire professional career with Inter Milan

Jayanta Oinam

During his prime, Giuseppe Bergomi was the quintessential Italian defender with all the attributes that make opposing players think twice before making a move. Often known as the Colossus of Inter Milan, Bergomi made his professional debut at 16 and spent his spent entire career with Nerazzurri, a loyal one-club man. His Giuseppe Meazza stint from 1977 to 1979 remains a case study of many Italian fans in defensive art. But, Bergomi is also known for a unique feat. Giuseppe Bergomi played in four FIFA World Cups for Italy, but never featured in any of the qualifiers. After turning up for the Italy U-21 team four times, the versatile defender made his senior international debut in 1982 as an 18-year-old. A late addition to Enzo Bearzot's squad, Bergomi featured in three matches, starting in two, during their title-winning campaign in Spain.

Bergomi was only one-cap old in international football when called up for the FIFA World Cup, but that didn't really bother him as he came with club experience, having already turned up in the domestic and continental tournaments. He was in the starting XIs on the Dino Zoff-led side in the semi-final against Poland and the big final against West Germany at the imposing Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Now popularly known as ‘The Uncle’ due to his prominent eyebrows and moustache, Giuseppe Bergomi was primed for more international action, and was on the plane to Mexico for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. But Italy, being the defending champions, didn't need to enter the qualifying round, unlike the current practice. That denied Bergomi a World Cup qualifying debut. Bergomi played in three matches, including the first two against Bulgaria and Argentina, and earned bookings in both Group A matches which ended in identical 1-1 draws. He missed the Korea Republic clash, which the Azurri won 3-2. But, he returned for the Round of 16 match. The defending champions, this time led by Gaetano Scirea, lost to France 2-0.

Four years later, the FIFA World Cup returned to Italy, and Giuseppe Bergomi was elevated to the national team captaincy. As the hosts, they didn't need to enter the qualification process. Now, at 26 and 65-international-match old, Bergomi led a relatively young but strong side featuring the likes of Walter Zenga in the goal, fellow defenders Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, midfielders Carlo Ancelotti and Fernando De Napoli and forward Roberto Baggio, among others. In front of a buoyant home crowd in Rome, Italy easily won Group A with three wins in three, then blanked Uruguay 2-0 in the Round of 16 thanks to two second half goals from Salvatore Schillaci and substitute Aldo Serena. In the quarter-finals, the hosts Schillaci scored the all-important goal to beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0. But, the change of venue, from Rome to Naples, proved detrimental for Bergomi & Co as they lost to Argentina in the semis, 4-3 on penalties after the extra time ended leveled at 1-1. Baresi, Baggio and Luigi De Agostini scored from the spot, but Roberto Donadoni and Serena missed. The Azzurri, however, claimed the third spot with a 2-1 win over England in Bari.

For the next edition of the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Bergomi failed to make Arrigo Sacchi's team even though he continued to be ever-present in the Inter squad which won the UEFA Cup in 1991 and 1994. Finally, in 1998, the former captain was called up for national duty by head coach Cesare Maldini despite not playing in the qualifiers. Now aged 34, and with a cap of 88 international matches, The Uncle played three matches, starting in two, in France. The Paolo Maldini-led side won Group B with two wins and one draw, then beat Norway 1-0 in the Round of 16. However, they lost to France 4-3 on penalties after goalless 120 minutes. This time, Demetrio Albertini and Luigi Di Biagio were the culprits from the spot. In four FIFA World Cups, for which he was never required to turn up in the qualifiers, Giuseppe Bergomi played 16 matches. He led seven times and was on the winning side 11 times. He retired from 1999 after playing 81 matches with six goals for Italy. But for Inter Milan, he played 517 games with 24 goals.