Soccer: The meteoric rise of Italy's hero

DORTMUND - Defender Fabio Grosso, who was playing fourth division soccer only five years ago, is struggling with the fact that he has booked Italy into the World Cup final.

Grosso, whose last-minute penalty secured Italy's passage into the second round against Australia, went one better by firing a superb curling shot past Jens Lehmann to give Italy the lead in the semifinal.

Though Alessandro Del Piero put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, it was Grosso's eye for goal from his years as a winger that put Italy in reach of the final.

It also marked an astonishing rise for a player whose career started with four seasons in amateur football, until 1998, and continued with three in Italy's C2 fourth division with Chieti before ending up at Palermo.

"When I saw it go in, it was such a big emotional rush - and I was glad to share it with all my teammates," said the leftback, who is widely tipped to join Inter Milan.

"I can't find the words at the moment. I'm very happy, as we all are. We're in the final. It's a dream, and bit by bit it's coming true. We're all hoping now that we can see it right through to the end. It's a moment of great emotion and great joy."

Grosso's goal capped a campaign which has been overshadowed by the scandal that rocked Italian soccer and led to a state prosecutor calling for Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina to be relegated from Serie A.

"We started this campaign with a thousand difficulties and now we're having a great tournament," said 28-year-old Grosso. "We've reached an incredible finishing line. We're a great group of players and we deserve the satisfaction we've earned ourselves here.

"It was a great performance. We came close a number of times and defended in great style. Then, just when it looked as though it was heading for penalties, these two goals came along."

Although Marcello Lippi did not include Grosso in his squad for Euro 2004, Italy's coach must be very glad he did for Germany.

- REUTERS