SPORTS NEWS.

Panucci made his debut in September 1994 against Slovenia in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match. However, he missed out on the final squad following a dispute with Italian national coach Arrigo Sacchi and was not a regular in the Italian national team until the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He has 48 caps and two goals as of the end of 2004. He has represented his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004.

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Panucci was widely blamed[8] for failing to clear a pass that led to the equalizing goal for South Korea by Seol Ki-Hyun in the dying minutes of the round of 16 match.

Panucci had not played for Italy for over three years after Euro 2004 in Portugal, having been ignored by Marcello Lippi, with whom he had fallen out with in his days at Inter, for the period of the 2006 World Cup. However, the 34 year-old was given a second chance by coach Roberto Donadoni, who called him up for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers against Georgia, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands.

Panucci then expressed his delight at earning his 50th Italy cap in the stadium where he began his career for the Azzurri in the 2-0 win over Georgia in their Euro 2008 qualifying tie in Genoa. Panucci came through the port club's youth ranks before joining A.C. Milan in 1993.

    "It was really emotional for me to play in an arena where I grew up. It may have seemed a little scripted but I'll never forget the standing ovation I received."

Panucci currently has 57 caps for the Azzurri, with four goals. He managed to score his first international goal for Italy since April 2002, when he headed a crucial injury-time winning goal against Scotland on 17 November 2007 in their Euro 2008 qualifying Group B match. Italy then managed to clinch their place at the European Championship finals.

On 13 June 2008, Panucci scored Italy's first goal against Romania at the Euro 2008[9] and became the oldest player to score in outfield play in the competition.