http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=681212&root=worldcup2010&cc=3888
This Sunday could turn out to be one of the most spectacular days in the Italian football season. Not because Sampdoria could extend their sensational lead at the top of the Serie A or because Atalanta could deepen the crisis for Leonardo's struggling stars at AC Milan.
But because Marcello Lippi could finally choose to honour the media's persistent calls for Antonio Cassano to be included in the Italian squad when he makes his selection for the side that will travel to face the Republic of Ireland in their crucial World Cup qualifier.
The skilful attacker, whose play in the past was undermined by childish antics on and off the field, has matured into the standout player in Serie A so far this season and could now benefit from Lippi's failure to find the right attacking formation with
Amauri 
, Luca Toni, Antonio Di Natale, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella all failing to make an impression with La Squadra Azzura.
This was certainly an unlikely scenario only nine months ago when Cassano once again caught the headlines for other reasons than his footballing skills when he published his autobiography Dico tutto (e se fa caldo gioco all'ombra), translated as "I'll tell you everything (and if it's hot I'll play in the shade)"
In this book Cassano not only disclosed in detail how a lack of discipline and insubordination had accompanied him almost everywhere, perhaps most famously when he (during his time at Real Madrid) would pay the bellboy to sneak a woman into his hotel room late at night on the eve of each home game and later finish off the night with four or five pastries.
But the information that must have brought Lippi's or other coaches blood to boiling point was how Cassano generally approached the game, which the prolific playmaker described explicitly in the controversial bestseller:
''The problem is that we live in a culture obsessed with success. We fool ourselves into thinking we have to do our best and make sacrifices to succeed. But why? Trophies come and go. Once you've retired, it will all be gone, they'll just be numbers in an almanac. And, except for [Diego] Maradona and Pelé and maybe a couple of others, nobody will remember you or what you've won. What is truly important is being happy now. I know I haven't given 100% physically or mentally to this game. At best, I gave 50%. Maybe a tiny bit more in the good years. But so what? Thanks to my talent, I live like a king, I play football and I have a great time. If I had wanted to give 100%, I would have stayed at Real Madrid, sacrificed lots of things, done my very best and I probably would have succeeded. Instead, I'm here at Sampdoria and I love it.''
On the back of those words, most Italian football experts have been at a loss why Cassano suddenly sought refuge in the gym rather than the local pastry shop during this summer. In fact, Cassano reported for pre-season training before any of his team-mates and in the dressing room he has allegedly been a true inspiration for his colleagues. Take for example, his attitude after the 4-1 victory over Siena on September 20. A couple of Sampdoria players told a story of how Cassano had gathered his team-mates around him before the game and said: "Lads, pay attention, because it's games like these, against Siena, that we risk the most." Does that sound like a player willing to let his own ego get in the way of his team's success? Indeed, at the age of 27, Cassano finally seems to have realised the error of his ways
''I was throwing everything out the window,'' says Cassano in an interview with Italian sports paper la Gazzetta dello Sport. ''I didn't want to practice; I used to arrive whenever I wanted in the mornings and I would lie down to take a nap. But I have understood it in time and there is no one happier than me now. Now I'll make everyone see if I am truly a man.''
Cassano also believes that he might have had the chance to develop differently as a person and could have avoided a lot of his mistakes had he not chosen to devote his future to AS Roma when president Franco Sensi came knocking on his door with an ¬28 million offer in 2001.
''If that day nine years ago I had said yes to Juventus and gone to Turin instead of playing for Roma... I would have achieved a lot more, both as a footballer and in terms of my behaviour,'' he adds. ''My personality would have been the same, but I would have met people who could straighten me up amongst the Bianconeri, while at Roma, they always agreed with everything I did. What a mistake! And I would have won a few more titles. Everything is more extreme in the capital. Roma is a very passionate place; if you are doing well, you are God, but if you are not doing well, you are rubbish.''
Two things have helped Cassano to take a radically different approach towards the game. First of all, Sampdora are providing the right frames on and off the pitch for him to reach his full potential and secondly 'Peter Pan' or Fantantonio (as he is often called in public) has a profound desire to play in the 2010 World Cup for the World Champions. Indeed, Cassano believes his decision to devote his future to Sampdoria has helped him turn from a boy into a man.
The prolific playmaker is more keen than ever to return to the national squad. Incredibly a player of Cassano's calibre has only managed to get ten caps for Italy so far in his career.
''Before the summer camp this year, I made a bet with myself,'' says Cassano who so far have formed a lethal partnership with Giampaulo Pazzini which has helped the Genoa-club reached the Serie A summit. ''I would like, and the key words are 'would like', to be part of Lippi's national side. I don't know if that will happen in the next few games or in the upcoming World Cup, but I want to work hard to make it to the team. In any case, I will always respect Lippi's decision without any problems.''
Asked if Cassano will return to the national team, Lippi responded: ''Every player dreams of playing for the national team and so does he. We must wait and see what my decision is for the final call-up in June.''
But with pressure mounting on Lippi's shoulders to find a solution for Italy's attacking problems in the wake of their Confederations Cup disaster, the Italian football fans will now hold their breath to find out if Lippi will finally reward Cassano for his new approach to the game.