Their friendship began in Sassari, during their time at Dinamo, and has remained strong even afterward , so much so that the two are known by fans as Gaspare and Orazio. And on the eve of tonight's friendly tournament in Athens between Italy and Latvia (7 p.m.), Marco Spissu has decided to put aside his usual number 0 to wear Achille Polonara's number 33.
A meaningful gesture for the winger, who was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent treatment that prevented him from playing for the Italian national team at the European Championships. Polonara received an outpouring of affection, starting with Pozzecco, his coach in Sassari, and ending with the players, both Italian and otherwise, and the fans.
However, the initiative by Sassari playmaker Marco Spissu goes further: it's like saying Polonara takes the field with the national team.