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Totti open to playing for Italy again
Francesco Totti is open to playing for Italy again - on a limited basis at least.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:36 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Rome:
Francesco Totti is open to playing for Italy again - on a limited basis at least. In the hours after Italy won the World Cup final last month, Totti said he was considering retiring from international play. Still recovering from a broken left leg, the AS Roma playmaker did not perform his best at the tournament in Germany. "I'm open to playing for the national team again," Totti was quoted as saying in Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport, following a phone call with new Italy coach Roberto Donadoni. Totti said he had not "played up to my potential" in the World Cup. "I would (now) like to play for the national team only when I am well physically," he added. The Gazzetta speculated that Totti would also prefer to stay out of friendly matches. Donadoni said it was "logical that a player doesn't respond to a call up if he has problems. "But evaluations will be made case by case, because when a player is well, he can also play friendlies," Donadoni added. "The rules are equal for everyone, although I know full well how long and stressful Italian clubs' seasons can be." Donadoni is planning a meeting with Totti next week to iron out the details of his future participation with the national team. By most indications, however, Totti still needs more time to fully recuperate his left leg and will not be available for Italy's first two Euro 2008 qualifiers. The Azzurri host Lithuania in Naples on September 2, then visit France four days later in a rematch of the World Cup final. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
Football Italy Francesco Totti
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