Former Italy coach slams Totti for Italy snub
Totti: Chooses AS Roma over Italy. Picture: Reuters
Friday, March 23, 2007
ENZO BEARZOT, who was Italy's coach in their triumphant 1982 World Cup campaign, has slammed Francesco Totti for snubbing the national team.
Totti has not played for Italy since last year's World Cup final victory over France and is only willing to return in September.
The 30-year-old AS Roma captain fears further problems with the ankle he broke three months before the World Cup and nearly ruled him out of the tournament, and also wants to concentrate on his club commitments.
Totti's decision was accepted by the Italian football federation (FIGC), but Bearzot believes Totti is being disrespectful to his country.
"It seems very strange to me, completely illogical," Bearzot was quoted as saying in yesterday's Gazzetta dello Sport.
"If he can play for Roma, he can play for the national team.
"It's a shame because he should be happy and proud to play for Italy.
"He is the best player in the country and a symbol of our football.
"I could understand if he had said he'd had enough and wanted to retire from international football altogether.
"But there's still this uncertainty and it sets a bad precedent. Others might do the same in the future."
Current Italy coach Roberto Donadoni clearly seems unhappy with Totti's sabbatical and on Tuesday insisted there was no guarantee the Roma forward would be considered for selection in September.
"When Totti makes himself available again and recovers from his physical problems, it will be up to me to decide whether he's in the squad," Donadoni said as he prepared the world champions for their crunch Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland next week.
"I'm getting tired of all these questions about Totti. I have other things on my mind."
Last week Totti, a born and bred Roman who has spent his entire career with his hometown club, said he would choose Roma over Italy every time.
"Between Roma and my country I choose Roma, of that there is no doubt," he told television channel TG1.
"The most important thing for me is wearing the Roma shirt."
Roma are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will meet English Premiership leaders Manchester United. They currently lie second in Serie A and are through to the Italian Cup final.
Italy are third in their Euro 2008 qualifying group on seven points, two behind Scotland and France, after four matches.AFP
Totti has not played for Italy since last year's World Cup final victory over France and is only willing to return in September.
The 30-year-old AS Roma captain fears further problems with the ankle he broke three months before the World Cup and nearly ruled him out of the tournament, and also wants to concentrate on his club commitments.
Totti's decision was accepted by the Italian football federation (FIGC), but Bearzot believes Totti is being disrespectful to his country.
"It seems very strange to me, completely illogical," Bearzot was quoted as saying in yesterday's Gazzetta dello Sport.
"If he can play for Roma, he can play for the national team.
"It's a shame because he should be happy and proud to play for Italy.
"He is the best player in the country and a symbol of our football.
"I could understand if he had said he'd had enough and wanted to retire from international football altogether.
"But there's still this uncertainty and it sets a bad precedent. Others might do the same in the future."
Current Italy coach Roberto Donadoni clearly seems unhappy with Totti's sabbatical and on Tuesday insisted there was no guarantee the Roma forward would be considered for selection in September.
"When Totti makes himself available again and recovers from his physical problems, it will be up to me to decide whether he's in the squad," Donadoni said as he prepared the world champions for their crunch Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland next week.
"I'm getting tired of all these questions about Totti. I have other things on my mind."
Last week Totti, a born and bred Roman who has spent his entire career with his hometown club, said he would choose Roma over Italy every time.
"Between Roma and my country I choose Roma, of that there is no doubt," he told television channel TG1.
"The most important thing for me is wearing the Roma shirt."
Roma are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will meet English Premiership leaders Manchester United. They currently lie second in Serie A and are through to the Italian Cup final.
Italy are third in their Euro 2008 qualifying group on seven points, two behind Scotland and France, after four matches.AFP
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