But Baggio accepts that, at 31, he is now part of the old guard -- a point of reference for his team-mates rather than the driving force behind Italy's bid for a fourth world title.

Baggio, the most celebrated Italian footballer of his generation, is clearly loving his third finals.

He played -- and played well -- in all Italy's group matches and banished the ghosts of the 1994 final by scoring from the penalty spot in Italy's opener against Chile. He added another goal against Austria this week after making an inspired entry as substitute in the Stade de France.

Baggio has the air of a man with nothing to lose. He won his place in Cesare Maldini's 22-man squad at the last moment and could easily have missed out on the trip to France.

And when he says he is happy to let young Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero take his first team place, itsounds like the truth rather than false modesty through gritted teeth.

``Of course I like being on the pitch from the start. Every player does,'' he said. ``But Del Piero, perhaps after Ronaldo, is the one player that everyone wants to see at this World Cup I want to see him play too.''Italy supporters want to see Baggio, though.

There were plenty of blue-shirted Del Piero fans in Paris but they were outnumbered by Baggio shirts bearing his number 18.