After being sent off in a match against Norway for the Euro 1992 qualifiers, Bergomi spent years without being called up to the "Azzurri", but was surprisingly selected for the 1998 World Cup at age 34, after playing 28 times in the league and leading the "Nerazzurri" to the UEFA Cup – his third and last. In France he started off as a reserve, but was substituted in during the last group stage match against Austria when Alessandro Nesta suffered a tournament-ending injury. He partnered for the rest of the tournament with Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Costacurta and Maldini, playing three games and leading Italy to a quarter-final finish, where they would be eliminated by hosts and eventual champions France, on penalties; this would be his 81st and final international appearance, to which he added six goals.