Totti himself said that he might play in the 2010 WC if Italy was in trouble during qualification. I am beginning to think that he is having 2nd thoughts and might make himself available for this summer after Italy qualify provided he is in good physical condition. He wants to go out with a bang so if Roma can win the scudetto which is a good posibility since it looks like Inter will be their only competition because Milan is playing for trophies this year then I can almost guarantee he will play this summer.This Euro is the one trophy that most of these guys do not have so believe me they want it. This is why guys like Del Piero and Inzaghi don't quit. And don't be surprised if somehow Nesta is talked into coming back also. These guys love and live for the big game.
It seems Panucci has been slightly injured since the Ukraine game. Spalletti stings: 'Panucci played with six injections' http://www.calciomercato.com/index.php?c=46&a=54451 Panucci replies to Spalletti: 'No injections in the National team' http://www.calciomercato.com/index.php?c=46&a=54731
I don't see Totti being a part of the 2010 World Cup team. First off it's too far away, secondly he's already shown himself intelligent enough to realize that at his age he can't play in every competition. Something other players are having a tough time dealing with. If anything I see Totti trying to get back into the squad for the 2008 Euro, it's the one of two tournaments he's missing (along with CL) and one he should have one in 2000. As a Roma fan and a Totti fan, I don't really know how I feel about it. I really want Totti to receive some of the International acclaim he deserves. Lesser players are much more well respected internationally than Totti. On the other hand as a Roma supporter seeing this team right now is something magical, especially considering where we were two years ago. It gives me a feeling I haven't felt since I was a kid. Above all else I want to see this team succeed and win it all. With all club bias aside I don't think there is any other team that deserves it. We built an amazing system with just 11 players and then youth players. This summer we reinforced it and can now rotate players around. We have a group that is trully close, works together, and is willing to make sacrifices. Guys like Cassetti can sit on the bench and come in prepared to play and make a difference. Even guys like Mancini that used to get frustrated when they were subbed are now coming into games more determined than ever. So whatever he does I'll be happy, should he only play for Roma and keep me dreaming like I'm 10 years old then I'm happy. If he goes for one last shot at a good international tournament then I will be ready to support him.
what i think will happen is if we qualify for the euros, and donadoni asks he'd agree to play the tourney, and then retire for good.
I would take a Champions' League or Scudetto over a European championship any day. If Totti needs to concentrate, we all can agree that he should concentrate on 'a maggica.
I'll be happy to see Totti nab another scudetto, but I'm becoming more and more of the belief that Champions League is the future. Winning the Champions League this year (or next the final in Roma) would be the ultimate prize for me. I think the Milan approach will become more and more common. The money we made in Champions League last season allowed us to get two players for every position. Immagine what we could do if we start going to at least reach the quarter finals on a yearly basis?
you're just now realizing this . the finances have been so skewed to where serie a is just not rendered near as important from a business perspective. do i like that? no, i don't, but it is where the money is, and if you aren't getting consistently far in the cl, then you will get left further and further behind. i think the cl windfall last year from tv rights and tickets receipts was a little bit over 100M pounds (150M euros) last year. that is 100M pounds that any one other than roma and inter last year (they saw much less but still saw a decent amount) will never see, and hence milan can have a huge wage bill or if they wanted (which we didn't) have got big transfers and not have had to worry about even bothering berlusconi. what is the prize for winning serie a or coppa italia?
I am sorry but only a Roma fan would agree to your statment that winning the Euro 08 is not important. Anyway....Roma will not win the Champions League ..PERIOD !
Luca Toni Update. Look likes he has recovered 90% from his injury and scored a good goal for Bayern today.
Club > Country As far as not being able to win the Champions League well see about that. Your team was mediocre as hell all last year with one good performance and they won it.
now, now, let's not go overboard here. truthfully, though, i think roma is a legitimate contender for the cl. i know most people might think that crazy after the 7-1 shellacking, but i think roma is much deeper and better, and with aquilani healthy and de rossi one year older, and juan and mexes looking just as formidable as mexes-chivu (and remember chivu was the one who ckoked big-time in cl quarters, he was god-awful), i think roma can make a run. in fact, i really admire how roma has built a team that could for the next few years be one of the best in not just italy, but in all of europe.
It would be nice to see Totti at Euro 2008 but I think he'd only do that should Roma win the scudetto. Otherwise he probably won't want to go into another season w/o rest when he still feels has unfinished business. And while it probably is for more lucrative for teams to progress far into if not win the Champions League I think it's far more important for Roma's future to win the league this year or at least sometime in the next 2-3 years. Should they do so I think it would solidify in the minds of De Rossi & Aquilani and whatever gems will emerge from the youth setup that this is a club they can stay with for their entire careers, a club that can offer them the chance to regularly win trophies. Imagine thinking that way about Roma 2-3 years ago when relegation was a very real concern. Spalletti has so far brought much needed stability to the club but winning the league will do far more than just bring home a trophy -- it will secure Roma's future for the next ten years.
Is it me, or does Totti seem a little different this year? I don't see him smiling much these days, a concerned look on his face. Maybe he's thinking about the MU match?
It's not so much a look of concern as much as it is MATURITY and concentration. I think that ankle injury really changed Totti's character as a player, and those 3 months watching from the stands helped him grow more as a leader and as a player. You'll also notice that his temperment has also calmed down significantly since then as well.
A few months ago if anyone were to ask me if I thought there was any chance at all for Totti to make a return to the Azzurri, I would've told them NO without a shadow of a doubt. Now though, I'm a bit more optimistic. When you consider a bit more in depth as to why Totti announced his retirement from international football so prematurely, it makes sense to understand why he did it, and why there is still a possibility for him to make a comeback in the future. Firstly, his main reason for doing it truly is because of his club obligations to Roma. That was made obvious from the beginning. We gotta understand that this is by far the best Roma squad since the 2003-2004 squad that finished in second spot in Serie A, having BARELY missed out on the scudetto. TOtti realizes this, and he realizes that this without a doubt the best possible opportunity to win the scudetto, especially considering that he isn't getting any younger. Totti also made it quite clear that he also wants to win a European championship, whether it be UEFA for Champions League, before he finally calls it quits. Once again, Roma this year has a very strong chance of going far in the tournament with the team that they have. Therefore, TOtti is simply trying to make the most of the opportunities that his club now has, and is trying to take advantage of them while the the opportunity is there! Secondly, we must be realistic. The guy is 31 years old, and he is playing with metal screws in his left ankle. Then, we also have to understand that he has to train regularly with Roma, play for the scudetto, Champions League, AND the Coppa Italia! With a scheduel this cluttered and busy, it's pretty easy to see why it would be difficult for him to also play regularly for the Azzurri, let alone be able to play at full fitness on top of that! In the end, I think Totti really just wants to get this season out of the way and give 100% of his attention to a club and a city that has given him so much during his career. Once that mission is accomplished, then I think he will make his return to the Azzurri, probably just before Euro, in order to give one last effort to the NT. Him announcing his retirement was the only way he could get the media and the FIGC off of his back, and at least this way he can come out of retirement whenever he chooses to!
Di Natale is ON FIRE! Two beautiful goals today for Udine against Reggina! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIEb_RZULsk&mode=related&search=
Wow , that were superb goals by Di Natale. 5 goals in 2 weeks... Here's Toni's Goal from today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOp17tMswHA
WOW, let's see "Super" Pippo try and pull off something like that! This is what makes Toni probably the best center forward in the world right now. It's something called having actual SKILL and ball control!