Euro 2008 Player Profile: Luca Toni

May 20th, 2008 | By: Chris | No Comments »

Name: Luca Toni
Nickname: Tonigol
Team: Italy
Group: C; France, Netherlands, Romania.
Caps (Goals): 33 (15) - as of May 20, 2008
DOB: May 26, 1977 (30 years old)
Position: Striker
Club Team: Bayern Munich

When you start talking about Luca Toni, it all begins with one word: goals. It’s simply what he does, better than nearly anyone else on the planet. His stats from the last 4 years across all fronts:

04/05: 20
05/06: 33
06/07: 19
07/08: 44

Toni missed some time in 06/07 and required surgery towards the end of the campaign, which explains his “low” numbers, if that’s what you want to call them, that season.

As a player, Toni is your prototypical targetman. Big and physical, he’s adept at creating his own space in the box as well as leaping onto the ends of crosses to nod the ball past the keeper with a little bit of oomph. Luca also has a great ability to hold the ball up with his back to goal and allow for the rest of the team to joing him in attack, sending out some sweet passes in the process. His technique and skill set is perhaps his most underrated talent, because he’s got a good amout for a man his size (See: Fabio Grosso’s goal v Georgia). In summation, the guy isn’t short of talent.

For the Azzurri he will be the prima punta, the lone man up top leading the attack and he’s on the short list of completely indispensable players on a team so stacked with talent, which is a massive compliment (joining him are Gigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo). It’s hard to say as he goes the Italian attack goes - those words are more often than not saved for Pirlo - but his impact is unquestionably huge.

What’s most impressive though is that Luca has come to define the late bloomer. Never a born golden child in the form of Totti, Buffon or Maldini, he’s worked for everything he has right now. As late as 26 he was still in Serie B, and his huge impact on Serie A didn’t come until 04-05, when he was 27 years old. Now at 30, 31 when the tournament starts, he’s one of the top 5 hitmen in the world, perhaps the most dangerous man in the opposition’s penalty box.

The Group of Death will be no walk in the park with three quality defenses trying to keep him at bay; but if this season was any indication, it’s the defenders who will be leaving the tournament with nightmares. Chances are we’ll be seeing a couple of Luca’s signature goal celebrations during in Swissaustria.