Wish you were here? Filippo Inzaghi
Ultimately, after a European Championship in which Italy were as lacking as any other superpower, the absence of a recognised penalty area poacher could be determined as a major reason for their dismal display.
Against Denmark, in the Azzurri's opener, Trapattoni's side began slowly but in the second period they carved enough opportunities to have broken the stalemate.
However, with the exception of the new Italian darling Antonio Cassano, Italy's forward line proved as disappointing as any other in a tournament where expectation has been superseded by shocks.
Francesco Totti was a model of petulance fuelled by an over-indulged ego, Alessandro Del Piero a lethargic figure who cannot escape from the expectation of his past and Christian Vieri had the brooding disinterest of a man who plays purely for himself.
Against the Danes, the Swedes and almost certainly Bulgaria, who would have betted against a scrappy goal courtesy of the knee, neck, elbow, thigh or behind of Mr Inzaghi?
The ultimate poacher who specialises in netting goals of importance but little aesthetic value.
It seems strange to lament the absence of a forward who is perpetually off-side, is prone to lying pole-axed after robust blowing from his marker and is generally the type of player whom supporters love to hate.
However, at least from an Italian perspective, Inzaghi could have narrowed the divide between success and failure and kept Trapattoni in both Portugal and work.
Ankle surgery in May curtailed aspirations of landing a Golden Boot but the Milan marksman insists he could have boarded the plane to Portugal and is still angry at Trapattoni's decision to prematurely close a door he had promised to keep ajar until the last possible moment.
''I know Trap never spoke to either of the doctors who operated on me or Milan's ones. They know my condition, which is good," lamented Inzaghi.
Disappointment is heightened by the fact that in qualification for Euro 2004, Inzaghi proved Italy's chief goalscorer after netting six goals in just five appearances.
Wales were put to the sword in Milan - with the former Juventus favourite bagging a hat-trick and a crucial goal against Serbia & Montenegro secured his nation's qualification.
For a player whose skill level rarely transcends the level of mediocrity, Inzaghi has proven a world-class goalscorer and it was such predatory instincts which persuaded Milan to part with £17 million in 2001 to land the striker from Serie A rivals Juventus.
In the 2002/03 campaign, Inzaghi justified his fee after 12 goals in 16 UEFA Champions League appearances helped Milan land Europe's biggest prize.
Italy's absence from the tournament's knockout stages can be attributed to many factors but few would deny Inzaghi a wry smile at the impotence of Trapattoni's golden forward line of Del Piero, Vieri and Totti.
