Fabio Cannavaro has not changed since becoming a football star - he has the same easygoing nature and cheeky grin as he did when he played as a kid in Naples.
Fabio Cannavaro is from Naples originally and gets goose bumps every time he walks out onto the pitch in the San Paolo stadium. He has not forgotten his roots and childhood friends, whom he goes to see whenever possible.
He has gone from the pitches at Agnano to the world stage playing against Ronaldo and Thuram's French team. He was not only a star in the eyes of Brazilian women, who voted him the best-looking footballer, but also in everyone else's eyes. Journalists and spectators alike asked themselves, "Do Cannavaro and Thuram really play together?"
D. Do you remember where you first played football and do you have any stories of when you were young?
FABIO CANNAVARO: I first played on the pitches at Agnano near Naples. I was eight years old and played as a midfielder.
D. Which was the first most important match of your career?
F.C. My first match in Serie A with Napoli against Juventus. For a Neapolitan to play for Napoli is just the best.
D. Who started you playing football?
F.C. My father played football in Serie C and perhaps I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
D. which is your favourite team?
F.C. Napoli.
D. Did you have posters of footballers up in your bedroom or anything else?
F.C. Amongst other things I had Levi's and Nike stickers up.
D. Which is your favourite stadium and who are your favourite spectators?
F.C. My favourite stadium is definitely Napoli's San Paolo. At the Glasgow Rangers' stadium in Scotland the spectators were very welcoming.
D. Is there one match in particular that you will remember all your life?
F.C. The UEFA Cup final in Moscow was incredible. I also enjoyed the Italy-France match during the World Cup.
D. And which was your worst match ever?
F.C. My first match in Serie A was dreadful. Nothing worked for me because I was too nervous.
D. Which coach are you most indebted to?
F.C. Sormani who trained me when I was in the Napoli youth team and Ottavio Bianchi.
D. What has been your best goal and the best goal you have seen someone else score?
F.C. The goal I scored against Salernitana and the goal by Careca at San Siro against Inter.
D. If you hadn't become a footballer what do you think you would have done instead?
F.C. I thank the Lord that I am a footballer as many of my childhood friends are having terrible problems finding work.
D. What do you think about the world of football?
F.C. Perhaps that the business side has taken some of the glamour away from the game.
D. What has been your best holiday ever?
F.C. My wife Daniela is scared of flying so I haven't travelled much. I do remember one holiday in Tenerife.
D. Describe your ideal evening out.
F.C. On Monday nights I like eating out and then going to the cinema.
D. What qualities do you look for in a friend?
F.C. I like my friends to be easygoing.
D. And what do you look for in a woman?
F.C. It is important that she doesn't talk about football.
D. How do you like dressing?
F.C. I dress conservatively and sportily.
D. Do you have a favourite film?
F.C. Braveheart.
D. How do you like to relax?
F.C. By watching a good film.
D. What is your favourite food?
F.C. I like penne alla sorrentina (pasta with a typical sauce from Sorrento) with aubergine and provola cheese.
D. If you ruled the world what is the first thing you would do?
F.C. I would stop all ethnic conflicts in former Yugoslavia.
D. Is there a public figure you admire?
F.C. I like Bill Clinton a lot.
D. What has been your best match with Parma?
F.C. A match I played at Genoa. We lost 3-0 , but I played very well. Also the match against Norway in the World Cup.
D. What do you like about the city of Parma?
F.C. The fact that it is so quiet during the week.
D. What qualities do you think the people from Parma have?
F.C. They are not intrusive.
D. Do they have any faults?
F.C. They're less tolerant on the road than the Neapolitains are.
D. What else would you like to win with Parma?
F.C. The Scudetto.

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With Parma enjoying a brief respite after Sunday's derby draw with Bologna, Fabio Cannavaro will celebrate his 26th birthday in a place far removed from the arenas he bestrides as a colossus. But foremost among his thoughts will be the disappointing start his side has made to the new campaign.
Fabio Cannavaro admits that Parma's performance against Bologna was not exactly brilliant and that the team suddenly ran out of steam during the second half. He goes on to say that they struggled to cope with unyielding opponents and a dangerous three-pronged attack.
Q. It is almost a carbon copy of the start of last season isn't it?
F.C. We were pretty confident we could start off in a completely different way. We worked hard in the summer to accommodate the arrival of the new players and to incorporate fully the new tactics. Unfortunately some problems are still lingering but we are still a good side. Last year we made an even worse start but then we got back on our feet.
Q. Would it be premature to be talking about a crisis situation?
F.C. You must be joking. It is absurd to deliver a verdict after just two games the season. Obviously we are not happy with the result against Bologna but there is a long way to go yet. The top of the table is not that far away.
Q. What do you think was missing from the performance against Bologna?
F.C. We should have been more determined and focused on the match. Teams in mid-table tend to be very tight in defence and strike when you least expect it. Unfortunately we tend to be on the receiving in these situations.
Q. Maybe the demands of the national have taken their toll as well?
F.C. I don't think so. It is possible that for the players from South America, like Ortega and Crespo, the return trip wasn't the most comfortable, but this is just one side of the coin.
Q. What would you tell your supporters?
F.C. My message to them is to stay calm and give us a few more days. This is a big challenge and we just need to sharpen things up. Our hard work will soon come to fruition.
Q. Does this mean that your birthday present from Parma will have to wait until the UEFA Cup?
F.C. We will approach the Kryvbas game in a totally different spirit, I am sure of it. As for Bologna I gave myself half a present by almost scoring a goal even if Ingesson got the finishing touchUkrainians as long as we win. It doesn't really matter who scores against the . One thing is that Ukrainian teams should never be underestimated.

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Is Fabio Cannavaro a gourmet chef? "Well, not quite," he says modestly. "But I can whip up a few dishes." So we put him to the test and he passed with flying colours. Fabio baked his very own special pizza 'alla Cannavaro' and let us in on his culinary secrets: "It is all in the mozzarella. You need to use the best. My friends and parents always bring me mozzarella from Naples! Also, never put it on uncooked pizza dough. You should add it half way through the baking process so that it stays softer."
This is how Fabio makes his succulent pizza: "Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Put the flour on the pastry board and add all the other ingredients. You have to knead the mixture for a long time and once it is the right consistency roll the dough into balls and leave them to rise in a warm place for about an hour. Then roll out the dough and add tomato, oil and a pinch of salt and place a basil leaf in the centre of the pizza. Cook for about 5-7 minutes at 190°. Add the mozzarella and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

Are there any other secrets? "Make sure you brush the baking tray with oil so the pizza doesn't stick and don't roll out the dough too thinly. Then just enjoy your meal!"

This time round, Fabio Cannavaro was on the offensive, launching a mouth-watering assault on our taste buds and deserves top marks for the result.

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Chiara (Settimo Torinese - Italy): "Who do you room with when you train with Parma? As a defender, what does it feel like when you score?"
A: "I always room with Antonio Benarrivo. He snores a lot and I am the only one in the squad who isn´t a light sleeper. I´m joking of course! As for scoring I have to say it comes as a surprise whenever it happens and is all the nicer for that."

Gaia (Italy): "Are you happy that your brother Paolo chose a football career too?"
A:Now he is here at Parma where he can gain a lot of experience alongside great players and "Very happy even though I know what sacrifices need to be made. with a coach who can help him to mature as a footballer."

Giulio (Florence - Italy): "What do you think is the missing link for Parma to be able to win the Scudetto?"
A: "Honestly I don´t think anything is missing for us to challenge for the Scudetto. I don´t want to hide behind or look for easy excuses, but this year we really haven´t had the rub of the green. All the injuries Parma have had this season make big dents in the squad and in the team´s ability to perform."

Maurice (France): "Do you think the gap between you and the leading pack of Juventus, Lazio and Roma has grown too large?"
A: "We need to have a great second half of the season, but Parma have every chance of doing just that. The key is for us to believe in ourselves as we all know we can do it."

Chiara (Lodi - Italy): "What is the most exciting match you have played in for Parma?"
A: "I would have to say the final in Moscow last season, when we won the UEFA Cup. The atmosphere was electric."

Camille (Belgium): "If you could meet a famous personality from the past, who would it be?"
A: "I´m not sure if you would know him in Belgium but the person I would most like to meet is Totò. He is the epitome of my Neapolitan background - full of fun."

Elisa (Stradella di Pavia - Italy): "Would you like to finish your career at Napoli? What do you miss most about your home city?"
A: "Napoli´s supporters are unique and finishing my career at Napoli would be wonderful. The emotion and warmth which Neapolitans exude is, I think, unique and intense. What do I miss about Naples? The sea, definitely."

Manuela (Sant´Ilario di Reggio Emilia - Italy): "Why do we always end up losing matches which are, on paper at least, easy ones?"
A: "This year that hasn´t been the case. We have only lost to Perugia while we have won all the other so-called easy matches. We have got over that bad habit from last season."

Analia (Indonesia): "Do you know you have lots of fans in Indonesia?"
A: "That´s very nice to hear. Knowing that there are people far away from you who are your fans is really exciting. Almost incredible. A big hug to all the Parma fans in Indonesia."

Giuseppe (Parma - Italy): "Are you not envious of goalscorers who win footballer of the year awards, become the fans´ favourites and hog all the limelight in the papers? Isn´t there some envy between defenders and attackers?"
A: "That´s football and there´s nothing you can do about it. But it´s something that is wrong with the game in Italy, whereas in England a slide tackle by a defender is applauded by the fans as if it were a goal. On that score we should follow their lead..."

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Marta, Rome: Which Italian attacker is the most difficult to defend against and who do you think is the rising star in Italy?
Cannavaro: That´s a difficult question Marta and to be honest, it´s difficult to answer, as there are a lot of good attackers. Vieri will punish you from long range and Totti is difficult to stop when he makes runs from deep. Regarding the young players, it is hard to say who will come through.

Guido, Italy: Do you think Parma can get back among the leaders especially with the Inter game coming up?
Cannavaro: The Inter game is going to be decisive and we must get back on course if we want to get in the running for the title. We still have the confidence and the desire to win the League, but we cannot make anymore mistakes.

Pisino: At what age did you think you would become a professional?
Cannavaro: When I started playing with the Napoli youth team I felt that there was a good chance that it would happen.

Enrico, Italy: Do you think that the injuries that have devastated the team were due to over-training?
Cannavaro: Absolutely not. The problem was to do with the Tardini pitch, which has caused numerous injuries. Remember that Amoroso got injured, then Torrisi went down on it and Boghossian´s injury flared up again because of the surface.

Alessandro, Italy: Is there any truth in the rumours that Thuram will move to Milan?
Cannavaro: At present they are nothing but rumours, but every one in football is replaceable and that includes Thuram and Cannavaro.

Rob, Jazz and Gaz, Kuwait: Who is the best defender of all time?
I think the best defender of all time was Scirea who was precision itself when it came to tackling. He was a class player and he was never sent-off. At present, Lilian Thuram, my team-mate, is the best around.

Kholoud, United Arab Emirates: Where do you like going for your holidays and what food do you prefer?
I like to go to the beach. I really miss it living in Parma and try to back down south to Naples when possible. As for food, well, it has to be pizza.

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The deluge of e-mails for Fabio Cannavaro has finally ended and the Parma defender would like to thank everyone who took time to write in. Although he could not reply to all your messages this time around, he will be back in the future at www.acparma.it to answer your questions.

Marianna, Katia and Francesca, Palermo, Italy:
"How are you, Fabio? We are three Sicilian girls who are looking forward to you playing for Italy against Sweden on 23 February. How you think you will do in Euro 2000?"
Cannavaro: "We are all looking for a good performance after a couple of mediocre games. The Palermo game is an opportunity to silence our critics. This game is the perfect build-up to Euro 2000 and I am sure that the Palermo public will get behind us. It is important for Italy to go far in Euro 2000."

Valentina, Vicenza, Italy:
"How do you get on with your team-mates, in particular Gigi Buffon and Alberto Malesani?"
Cannavaro: "I get on really well with Gigi, which is important, as we play together at the back. You need players that get on well with each other if you want to get results and I think the side as a whole reflects well on the coach."

Catherine, Hong Kong:
"Why do you hold Filippo Inzaghi´s hand during the Italian national anthem?"
Cannavaro: We are friends and when the national anthem is played it is a very emotional moment. We hold hands to show we are united with a desire to win.

Valeria, Italy:
"When did you decide to become a defender?"
Cannavaro: "When I was young like all my friends I wanted to play up-front, but when I started to play organised football I moved into defence. I have to say that it was a fortune move, as I have never scored many goals."

Baby and Roby, Palermo:
"Do you think Hernan Crespo is the best striker in the world? Good luck for the future!"
Cannavaro: "He has been the most prolific goalscorer in the last couple of years, but it is difficult to make comparisons with other Leagues. However, for the players at Parma he certainly deserves the award."

Andrew, Indonesia:
"Are you ready to commit your future to Parma?"
Cannavaro: "I think will stay at the club for the rest of my career, but you never know in football. The club and I get on very well and now my brother is here too. However, in the future the club may have different ideas and we are all professionals and must accept any change."

Luv, Bunga, Indonesia
: "What would you do if you were not a footballer?"
Cannavaro: "Well, I love pizza, so I would probably be a pizza maker."

Kari

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It couldn´t have been more appropriate. Fabio Cannavaro enjoyed his 200th Serie A appearance on Sunday night - and provided the inch-perfect assist for the match-winner into the bargain. And, since we are on the subject of statistics, it might be worth noting that the goal Cannavaro set up was no less than Crespo´s 18th of the season. "Had Fuser put that ball in, everybody would have spoken of a stupendous cross," joked the Italy defender. "The truth is, that was the third time I have helped Crespo to score."

So are Parma on a high after this victory?
"Yes, but we know we still have a lot to do. We won an important match, but by no means a decisive one."

This is your fifth consecutive victory, but would you not agree that it differed considerably to those that preceded it?
"To be honest, we hadn´t played that well on the preceding Sundays, but we´d still managed to win. It was enough. But we knew that we needed something extra against Milan."

And what exactly would that be?
"We played a great match against a side that came to the Tardini to play for victory right up to the last minute. But I must congratulate all my team-mates; we were impeccable in every department. This time we also showed grit and determination not displayed previously."

In terms of your Champions League aims, this was a massive victory, wasn´t it?
"Yes, very important, because in one fell swoop we moved from fifth to third. Now we´re well placed to challenge right up to the wire for one of those Champions League places."

The match was also notable for the performance of Jorge Bolano. Would you say he´s been the real revelation of this end of season?
"After an incredible series of injuries, we´ve really discovered the man who can make the difference in the midfield. Bolano is great, but so is Ousmane Dabo. They´ve given us that balance we needed. This is probably the main factor that has helped our form."

Fight-backs of the scale that the Gialloblu have managed this season should be worth a place in the Guiness Book of Records...
"Yes, you´re probably right - unfortunately. After having raced up the table just before Christmas, we suffered yet another collapse in the New Year, which meant we lost nearly all that we´d struggled to achieve. Now we´re back on form and on the charge again. It´s a pity. Had we been a bit sharper earlier in the season we could have been a lot further up the table."

Now there are only six matches remaining. What qualities do you think Parma need for this finale?
"Consistency, consistency and consistency. If we don´t think of these last matches as true finals, we just won´t make it into the Champions League. We´re well aware just how much of a roller-coaster ride this season has been. One defeat sends you reeling, while one victory launches you once again. We must retain this level of concentration and make as few mistakes as possible."

Finally, do you have anything to say to the fans?
"A big thanks to them - they sustained us with their support. We´ll need as much of their help as we can get to keep us on the right path."

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*All of these Interviews are taken from the Official AC Parma WebSite http://www.acparma.it

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