21 June 2024 , 07:54
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Italian football legend Roberto Baggio has been rushed to hospital after being robbed while watching his country's defeat to Spain at Euro 2024.
According to Corriere del Veneto, a gang of five armed thugs broke into his family home at around 10pm on Thursday evening. Baggio attempted to confront one of them, but after a brief struggle the former Juventus star was hit over the head with the butt of a gun.
Baggio was left with a head wound, with the former midfielder and his family then locked in a room. The thugs then ransacked the house stealing watches, jewels and money.
After Baggio was sure the robbers had left, he broke down the door of the room his family were locked in and called the police. After they arrived on the scene, Baggio was taken to hospital where he was given some stitches. His family are said to have been shaken but not injured.
Baggio spent his entire career in Italy, playing for the country's three most successful clubs in Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He joined Juve in 1990, winning the Serie A title and Coppa Italia double in his final season at the club.
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After five years in Turin he joined AC and immediately won the Scudetto once again. While at Juve, he won the Ballon d'Or after helping them to win the UEFA Cup, scoring twice in the first leg of the final against Borrusia Dortmund.
His success at club level was never quite replicated at international level, though he did become the first Italian to score at three different World Cups. Baggio led the Azzurri to the final in the 1994 edition of the tournament, where they faced Brazil.
Baggio had been watching Italy's defeat to Spain when he was attacked (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)The game was still goalless after extra-time, sending the match to a penalty shootout. With the score 3-2 after nine spot-kicks, Baggio fired his penalty over the bar, handing Brazil the win.
After retiring, he became president of the technical sector of the Italian football federation in 2010. But he resigned three years later after claiming the federation had ignored his ideas about focusing on youth talent.
Meanwhile in Germany, Italy fell to a narrow defeat against Spain, though the scoreline arguably should have been bigger. La Roja were dominant in Gelsenkirchen, though in the end only needed Riccardo Calafiori's own-goal to secure the three points.
That means they have now secured their progression to the Last 16, while Italy must avoid defeat against Croatia to also book their place in the knockout stages. Italy struggled to lay a glove on Spain and were indebted to keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for making a number of impressive saves.