During the 2001–02 Serie A season, Antonino Asta impressed many football pundits with his performances, captaining Torino to place in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup, and making 25 appearances with the team, despite picking up an injury in the Derby della mole return leg against local rivals and eventual Serie A champions Juventus, after being tackled harshly by Edgar Davids. As a result, Italy national football team head coach Giovanni Trapattoni called him up to the national side, and gave him his debut during a pre-World Cup friendly match against U.S.A., in Catania, on 13 February 2002, which Italy won 1–0, with a goal from Alessandro Del Piero; this was his only appearance for Italy.