Collina gives official view

By Paul Saffer & Paolo Menicucci in Tirrenia

The UEFA European Under-17 Championship is a tremendous opportunity for those making their way in international football to gain their first taste of a major tournament - and not just the players.

Respected referee
Six referees and eight assistants with plenty of experience at club level are in Tuscany over the next fortnight to officiate at their first finals. And there is no better man to emulate in that regard than the man who took charge of the last FIFA World Cup final - and as respected a referee as there has ever been - Pierluigi Collina.

High regard
Before the games started on Tuesday, the instantly recognisable Italian was on hand to give the officials a pep talk, coming as he does from Viareggio, not far from the tournament base near Pisa. And Collina has high regard for the men selected to referee here.

'Nice to come'
Collina told uefa.com: "I am here to give a welcome to these referees. I only live 35 kilometres to the north so I am very close. I think it is nice to come here to meet young referees attending their first UEFA tournament. They maybe young but are experts in their own competitions. They have interesting games in their domestic leagues which keep their standards very high."

Role model
While the 45-year-old may be a role model for those wishing to referee the biggest games, Collina is modest about his own status. "I don't think that someone should wish to be like someone else," he said.

Hard work
"It is very important to consider what has to be done to reach a high standard, and I hope that what I did is appreciated by other referees," he added. "Working hard is the only way to reach this kind of standard. I am sure that the best advice is given by the UEFA Referees' Committee members. They take care of the young referees."

Opportunity missed
Ironically, Collina himself missed out on the chance to referee at a youth finals. He remembered: "I was selected for 1985 in Belgium but my wife was pregnant and about to give birth. So I had to give up the tournament because my second daughter was arriving."

Wish to attend
Having made the short journey to speak to the officials, Collina is hoping to take in some of the tournament, but - still active for now in Serie A - he has many pressures on his time. "I hope to see the matches," he said. "I am training most afternoons for the [Serie A] matches, but I still aim to watch."

Local pride
Of course, as a Tuscan, he is delighted to see the finals played locally. "It is very important to have the privilege of hosting this kind of tournament in this region," he said. "It is very important for promoting the image of the country, and I hope the teams and officials enjoy their stay here. It is a nice part of Tuscany - the sea is very close, there are several interesting things to be seen around here and some charming cities - so I hope they all have a good time."