Totti's World Cup chances wilt

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By Paul Virgo (ANSA.IT) 14:36, November 22, 2013

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Rome, November 20 - Last month the campaign to see former Italy forward Francesco Totti recalled from international retirement for next year's World Cup in Brazil looked unstoppable.

The 37-year-old was in superlative form as he helped leaders AS Roma make the best-ever start to a Serie A season, notching 10 consecutive victories.

This prompted Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli to admit that he would be forced to call up the veteran - arguably the best of a generation of Italian strikers that also includes Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi - if the World Cup was on the doorstep.

But the 2006 World Cup-winner has been out of action since suffering a hamstrong injury in October and, even though he should be ready to return to action for Roma early next month, the setback may prove to be fatal to his chances of featuring in Brazil.

"He's a talent, but time is passing for all of us," Prandelli said of Totti before Monday's 2-2 draw with Nigeria in a friendly in London.

"Let's leave him be. The last time we didn't bring him luck as we talked about him and he got injured". Although Prandelli was careful not to rule out using Totti, those comments have been interpreted in the Italian media as the next best thing.

While Totti's class is unquestionable, one factor that might influence the Italy coach is that the player usually takes some time to regain top form after injury.

Marcello Lippi wanted Totti to be part of his squad for the 2006 World Cup at all costs even after a nasty knee injury and he played his part in the Azzurri's win, scoring the penalty that gave them a 1-0 victory over Australia in the round of 16.

But he was by no means Italy's most influential player in that campaign.

Furthermore, given his age, taking Totti would be a major risk, given his frequent bad luck with injuries.

It is also true that Prandelli has several good, young options in attack already, above all AC Milan's Mario Balotelli and Fiorentina's Giuseppe Rossi - the partnership the coach likes best. Totti took a break from international football after the 2006 World Cup, before quitting the national team completely without returning.

He has hinted on several occasions he would be willing to return at a big tournament, but also expressed reservations that, if things go badly, he will be used as a scapegoat.

"I'm focused on Roma. My national team is this shirt," Totti said before his latest injury "But if I'm in great shape in May and something happens, we'll see. I'm available".

Totti is Serie A's all-time second top-scorer with 230 goals.

Only Silvio Piola, who notched 274 goals for Pro Vercelli, Lazio, Juventus and Novara between 1929 and 1954, has scored more in the Italian top flight. He made his senior debut for Roma aged 16 over 20 years ago and helped them win the league title in 2001 and the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008, having spurned chances to join other clubs, including Real Madrid.

In September he signed a two-year contract extension with Roma to take it up to 2016. He will be close to 40 when it expires.