Nesta hopes to be third time lucky

Rome: Alessandro Nesta is among a select group on Italy's team which will be competing in its third - and likely last - World Cup.

Fellow central defender Fabio Cannavaro and reserve forwards Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi also belong to the group.

Nesta, who turned 30 in March, has mixed memories of his first World Cup, an experience which ended when he tore ligaments in his right knee three minutes into Italy's third group game against Austria.

"I entered France '98 after playing the entire season, every game. I wasn't in perfect condition and that's one of the reasons why I got hurt," said Nesta, who tripped before colliding with an Austrian defender.

"Afterward, though, I remember saying to myself, 'there are worse things in life,' and I still think so," he added.

Nesta met his fiancee, Gabriella, because of the injury.

"She came to watch that game and on the way home, she happened to sit next to me on the plane. We've been together for eight years. She's a very important part of my life."

Nesta's biggest disappointment with Italy came in the Azzurri's golden-goal loss to France in the 2000 European Championship final. Italy was seconds from victory when Sylvain Wiltord equalised in the 90th minute.

David Trezeguet scored the winner in extra time.

"European finals with the national team don't exactly happen too often," Nesta said. "In a career, if you're lucky, you play three or four of those competitions. You've got to take advantage of those opportunities. We played one of our best games of those Euros against France."

In 2002, Nesta's second World Cup ended with another golden goal, by South Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan.

"We didn't play well. Luckily the criticism fell mainly on (referee) Byron Moreno. But it was mostly our own fault," Nesta said.

Nesta transferred to AC Milan after the 2002 World Cup, ending a nine-season stretch at Lazio.

He won the Champions League in his first season at Milan and completed his fourth season with the club in May.

Nesta recently had a minor leg injury and missed a few games for Milan - which should make him fresher for the World Cup.

"I think this may be my last World Cup," Nesta said, adding that he was encouraged by the spirit which new coach Marcello Lippi has brought to the Azzurri.

"Let's hope this euphoria builds positively and we enter with the necessary strength in our legs," Nesta said. "That's the most important thing."