Antonio Di Natale (born 13 October 1977) is an Italian football striker currently playing for Udinese. He likes to play just behind the main striker as a supporting striker and is renowned for his pace, technique, passing and intelligence.

Club career

Born in Naples, Di Natale was brought up in the Empoli youth system and was sent on loan to smaller teams before becoming a protagonist in 1999. He impressed many while playing for Empoli in Serie A and even received his first Azzurri call-up. He was awarded a contract extension. When Empoli was relegated he moved to Udinese.

After having joined Udinese in the 2004–05 Serie A season, Di Natale formed well together with Vincenzo Iaquinta and David Di Michele in attack, which the Friulian club finished 4th place at the end of the season and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the following year. Di Natale finished his debut season with a record of 33 games and seven goals.

International career

Di Natale made his senior debut in late November 2002 against Turkey while Giovanni Trapattoni was still in charge of the national team. He won a few caps in later years though only participated in friendly games. In 2007, he regained a spot with the Azzurri, and was involved in the Euro 2008 qualification campaign. Di Natale netted a goal in each half, setting Italy en route to a hard-fought win over Ukraine in a qualifying match.

Style of play

Di Natale is regarded as a late developer in the game, his style being similar to the likes of Alessandro Del Piero. Typically playing just off front striker Luca Toni, the two have been very successful for Italy, winning six games in a row and scoring a combined 10 goals in that time.

Italy 3-1 Belgium
Antonio Di Natale scored two goals in the first half and Mauro Camoranesi added another in the second as Italy defeated Belgium n Florence in their last friendly game ahead of UEFA EURO 2008™.

Comfortable win
Di Natale opened the scoring before the ten-minute mark and made it two just before the break. He was then replaced but Camoranesi did not take long to make it three. Second-half substitute Wesley Sonck headed in a corner to grab a consolation but the world champions are looking in good shape for their 9 June Group C opener against Belgium’s neighbours, the Netherlands.

Di Natale opener
After a minute’s silence to mourn former Belgium striker François Sterchele, who died in a car accident earlier this month, Italy started well and carved out the first opening. Christian Panucci headed just wide following a centre from the right by Camoranesi, but a minute later the Azzurri were back for more. This time, Andrea Pirlo dribbled past Sébastien Pocognoli with a series of tricks before crossing to the far post for Di Natale, whose perfect right-footed volley gave Belgium goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen no chance.
Advantage doubled
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni was fielding a 4-3-3 formation with Luca Toni, Di Natale and Camoranesi in attack, while Alberto Aquilani was the surprise inclusion in midfield alongside Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso. Together, they continued to control the game without much fuss and four minutes from the break they made it two, as Belgium lost possession and Aquilani immediately found Di Natale on the box. The Udinese Calcio man drilled in his second with a precise low shot.
Half-time changes
During half-time, Donadoni replaced Di Natale with Serie A top-scorer Alessandro Del Piero, while also sending Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso on for Panucci and Fabio Cannavaro. That meant the captain’s armband went to Gianluigi Buffon, but the Italy goalkeeper remained very much a spectator as his team went three up four minutes after the restart. Del Piero served his Juventus team-mate Camoranesi with a fine pass on the right and the winger sent his effort between Stijnen’s legs and into the bottom of the net.
Sonck consolation
Donadoni also gave Antonio Cassano and Marco Borriello some playing time, with the latter missing a glorious opportunity to make it four when presented with an open goal by Gianluca Zambrotta’s pass from the right channel. There was still time for another goal, but it came at the other end from Sonck.

Italy lineup: Buffon, Panucci (Grosso 46), Cannavaro (Chiellini 46), Barzagli, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo, Aquilani (Ambrosini 75), Camoranesi (Cassano 61), Di Natale (Del Piero 46), Toni (Borriello 75).
Belgium lineup: Stijnen, Hoefkens (Swertz 46), Kompany, Vertonghen, Pocognoli (Huysegems 83), Witsen (Gillet 70), Simons, Fellaini, Defour (Sonck 58), Mudingayi, Dembele (Mirallas 58).