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MILAN, Italy -- Giacinto Facchetti, a former Italy soccer captain who led his country to the 1970 World Cup final and became Inter Milan's president, died Monday at 64.

He died at Milan's cancer institute, Inter said. The club did not say what kind of cancer he had.

The Italian national team will honor him by wearing black armbands during Wednesday's European Championship qualifier against France.

Facchetti played for Inter from 1961-78 when it won four Italian league titles, two Champions Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and one Italian Cup. A sturdy left back who was strong on attack, Facchetti played 94 times for Italy, 70 as captain. He led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 1968 and to the World Cup final in 1970, where it lost to Brazil 4-1.

Pele played against Facchetti in the 1970 title game. In 2004, the Brazilian great called Facchetti one of the top 125 living soccer players.

"He was the captain of my generation," said Luigi Riva, Italy's career scoring leader and now the national team manager. "We won a European Championship together in '68 and played the World Cup final. He was a special person and an example for everyone."

Facchetti was Inter's president since 2004.

"He played his part and will always play a part in the history of Inter," Inter captain Javier Zanetti said.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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