Why why WHY???? didn't he quit, so close and yet so far! :down::down::down: So close to putting a good team back together without that clown and now all hope is lost. :down::down::down:
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Totti almost quit Azzurri
Friday 1 October, 2004
Francesco Totti has revealed that he considered international retirement after his disastrous Euro 2004.
The No 10 was expected to lead Italy to the latter stages of the tournament but returned home in disgrace.
That after he was handed a four-match ban for spitting at a Danish player in the Azzurri’s opening game of the tournament.
It was that incident which he today claims nearly saw him end his love affair with La Nazionale.
"I’ve now forgotten about that situation," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "I know that I made a mistake but I didn’t do it on purpose. It was a spontaneous gesture, a reaction.
"For a while I did consider quitting the national side but then I realised that would have seen my critics win. Now I have a great desire to return."
The Roma ace also admitted that the pressure on him to deliver was a factor in his Portugal nightmare.
"The Championships had finally arrived and much was expected from Italy," he added. "We all had a desire to do well."
Totti has now archived the past and is just concentrating on the future with Marcello Lippi’s new outfit.
"The objective is Germany 2006," he exclaimed. "I hope to have a better World Cup than the European Championships – also because I didn’t really play at Euro 2004…
"I’ll look to end my Nazionale stint by having a great World Cup Finals tournament."
Totti is set to make his first step towards that aim next week as he is expected to feature in the qualifiers against Slovenia and Belarus.
The 28-year-old hasn’t played for Italy since the spitting incident as he missed the previous three internationals with suspension and then injury.
====
Totti almost quit Azzurri
Friday 1 October, 2004
Francesco Totti has revealed that he considered international retirement after his disastrous Euro 2004.
The No 10 was expected to lead Italy to the latter stages of the tournament but returned home in disgrace.
That after he was handed a four-match ban for spitting at a Danish player in the Azzurri’s opening game of the tournament.
It was that incident which he today claims nearly saw him end his love affair with La Nazionale.
"I’ve now forgotten about that situation," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "I know that I made a mistake but I didn’t do it on purpose. It was a spontaneous gesture, a reaction.
"For a while I did consider quitting the national side but then I realised that would have seen my critics win. Now I have a great desire to return."
The Roma ace also admitted that the pressure on him to deliver was a factor in his Portugal nightmare.
"The Championships had finally arrived and much was expected from Italy," he added. "We all had a desire to do well."
Totti has now archived the past and is just concentrating on the future with Marcello Lippi’s new outfit.
"The objective is Germany 2006," he exclaimed. "I hope to have a better World Cup than the European Championships – also because I didn’t really play at Euro 2004…
"I’ll look to end my Nazionale stint by having a great World Cup Finals tournament."
Totti is set to make his first step towards that aim next week as he is expected to feature in the qualifiers against Slovenia and Belarus.
The 28-year-old hasn’t played for Italy since the spitting incident as he missed the previous three internationals with suspension and then injury.
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