Let’s start this debate with a simple fact. Barring injury,
A secret deal between the Roma legend and Italy coach
At the weekend, Totti came as close as ever to publicly confirming that he will participate in his third straight Mondial.
"The World Cup? I will decide in April, that's if Lippi and the group wants me there," he told La Repubblica.
"I have a great relationship with the coach that goes beyond football, I will not forget what he did for me in Germany [2006]. He has always waited for me and given me the trust."
Sections of the media have been split over whether Totti’s return is good or bad for the Azzurri. Many critics argue that it is unfair on the rest of the group who have worked hard to qualify Italy for the World Cup for Er Pupone to just then turn up in time for the finals. Totti has not played for La Nazionale since the 2006 World Cup final win over France, while he infamously left Roberto Donadoni hanging for almost a year before he announced his international retirement in 2007. Others point out that Totti is pushing on 34, and should make way for younger players. The Giallorossi captain’s injury proneness and limited mobility is cited as another issue.
Following Italy’s quarter final penalty shootout exit to Spain at Euro 2008, I actually agreed with many of the above arguments. I wrote a Calcio Debate entitled ‘Yes To [Alessandro] Nesta, No To Totti’ where I argued that Lippi should recall the former for the World Cup, but not the latter.
Things have changed somewhat in the past 18 months, though. My main objection to recalling Totti was my belief that Italy had a host of young, talented forwards coming through who would be ready to take South Africa by storm. I singled out the emergence of Sebastian Giovinco,
Cassano has been frozen out
For one reason or another, none of these players have carried through my wishful thinking. Most of the blame lies with Lippi for refusing to freshen up his squad and stubbornly persisting with the ageing 2006 veterans. Meanwhile, Cassano and Miccoli have been excluded on political grounds – the former some believe because of Totti’s impending return (the pair fell out spectacularly while at Roma).
Those that Lippi has chosen - during the qualifiers, friendlies and Confederations Cup – have proven emphatically that they are not good enough to make an impact on a World Cup. Despite being grouped in a weak qualification pool with Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Montenegro and Georgia, Italy’s forwards struggled terribly not only to score goals, but to create chances.
Italy’s strikers scored just nine goals in 10 qualifiers – three of which for Alberto Gilardino occurred in a dead-rubber match against Cyprus. Italy’s joint second top-scorer in qualifying was Georgia’s Kakha Kaladze with two own goals! The likes of
Italy need Totti's goals and class
The idea that Italy’s forwards should feel betrayed about having worked so hard to get to South Africa, only to see Totti steal their place on the plane, is quite frankly ridiculous. Not a single Italian attacker who has played during qualifying has earned their ticket – the only two who have done enough to be considered are Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino. If anyone has been stealing places it is the current Italy attack because under any other coach most of them would not even be in the squad – such is their inferiority to the likes of Cassano.
Going into South Africa, Italy possess arguably their weakest squad for 50 years. Without Totti, Italy have no chance of retaining the trophy they won so gloriously in Germany four years ago. With Totti, who has scored 20 goals in 18 games this season, they still have little chance.
