Famous sports journalist Bruno Pizzul, who for years graced Italian television with his football commentaries, has died, three days short of his 87^th birthday, Rai reports.

Pizzul, born in Udine on 8 March 1938, joined Rai in 1969 and a year later commented his first match on TV, a Juventu-Bologna Coppa Italia match.

He became the voice of the Italian national team each time it played an international game in 1986, and went on to follow the azzurri for five World Cups until his last game in 2002.

For years he also conducted Domenica Sprint and later the Domenica Sportiva.