Zambrotta, who earlier this week flew out of Germany to visit Pessotto in hospital after his apparent suicide attempt, netted Italy's first goal with a superb left-footed drive in their 3-0 quarterfinal win over Ukraine.

The victory set up a last four clash against Germany, who Italy meet in Dortmund on Tuesday.

"That goal was in my destiny," Zambrotta, who has made 68 international appearances, told a press conference here on Sunday.

"It's been ages since I last scored a goal like that. I did it on the day that we had Gianluca in our minds."

Zambrotta's only other international goal came in a 4-0 friendly win against Tunisia on May 30, 2004.

Zambrotta, 29, said he hoped his side could emulate the feat of 1982 Azzurri team, who won the World Cup after beating Germany 3-1 in the final.

"I have that memory in my mind and it would be a dream to repeat it," said Zambrotta, who has been at Juventus since 1999.

Pessotto, who retired as a Juventus player at the end of May and became team manager, jumped out of his Turin office window on Tuesday, falling 15 metres to the ground.

On Saturday doctors said the former Italy international opened his eyes and recognised his family and friends when they came to visit him in hospital.

Italian media have quoted Pessotto's wife, Reana, as saying he tried to commit suicide because he was "stressed and depressed for some time."

He had struggled to adapt to the team manager's role after retiring as a player, she said.

Juventus are at the centre of Italy's match-fixing scandal, although the 22-times capped Pessotto, who helped the Turin Club win the 1996 Champions' League, has not been implicated.