Totti rejects to play for italy...again!! (1 Viewer)
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Azzurri legend Gigi Riva says Italy has lost “one of its greatest stars” now Francesco Totti has retired from international football.
Riva is the Nazionale’s Team Manager and worked closely with the squad during the 2006 World Cup.
“I already knew of his decision, as I spoke with him for almost an hour about three weeks ago, discussing everything,” ‘Rombo di Tuono’ told Rete Sport.
“We must absolutely respect this decision and this man. We can only thank him for all he has done for the Azzurri.”
Some have reacted angrily to Totti’s year-long hiatus and today’s eventual announcement that the retirement was to be permanent.
“Italy have lost a real world class player, perhaps their greatest player. He was often decisive for the Azzurri and is certainly one of the greatest in the history of Italian football, giving so much to this sport.”
The Roma captain had originally stated he wished to return in September, when his ankle had fully healed from a fracture suffered in February 2006.
“I really appreciated the way he sacrificed himself and fought so hard to be at the World Cup. It was almost fearless. He always put the team first and comes out of this international experience with his head held high.”
Totti insists that the decision to walk away was purely physical, as he would find it “impossible” to play for Roma and Italy with a metal plate still holding his ankle in place.
“In football there comes a time when you have to think about family, your club and above all your health,” added Riva.
“Without that injury, we would’ve had him in the Azzurri for a few more years. It is a painful separation, as we wanted Francesco to play with us again.”
So Roberto Donadoni must rethink his plans for the crunch Euro 2008 qualifiers against France and Ukraine in September.
“The game with France will be the most difficult we have faced after the 2006 World Cup Final in Berlin. We hope to find a replacement worthy of the Giallorossi captain,” concluded Riva.
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Riva is the Nazionale’s Team Manager and worked closely with the squad during the 2006 World Cup.
“I already knew of his decision, as I spoke with him for almost an hour about three weeks ago, discussing everything,” ‘Rombo di Tuono’ told Rete Sport.
“We must absolutely respect this decision and this man. We can only thank him for all he has done for the Azzurri.”
Some have reacted angrily to Totti’s year-long hiatus and today’s eventual announcement that the retirement was to be permanent.
“Italy have lost a real world class player, perhaps their greatest player. He was often decisive for the Azzurri and is certainly one of the greatest in the history of Italian football, giving so much to this sport.”
The Roma captain had originally stated he wished to return in September, when his ankle had fully healed from a fracture suffered in February 2006.
“I really appreciated the way he sacrificed himself and fought so hard to be at the World Cup. It was almost fearless. He always put the team first and comes out of this international experience with his head held high.”
Totti insists that the decision to walk away was purely physical, as he would find it “impossible” to play for Roma and Italy with a metal plate still holding his ankle in place.
“In football there comes a time when you have to think about family, your club and above all your health,” added Riva.
“Without that injury, we would’ve had him in the Azzurri for a few more years. It is a painful separation, as we wanted Francesco to play with us again.”
So Roberto Donadoni must rethink his plans for the crunch Euro 2008 qualifiers against France and Ukraine in September.
“The game with France will be the most difficult we have faced after the 2006 World Cup Final in Berlin. We hope to find a replacement worthy of the Giallorossi captain,” concluded Riva.
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Yes, it should have been DP's tournament, & with those 2 "misses," (1 at least could have been the goal which gave Italy the winner's medal & dumped France) there was a hate campaign against him for ages after, which I prefer to forget. But back to Totti. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, my friend. Yes, I too thought he played not badly at all, but that's just the point. He wasn't outstanding. As I remember Euro 2000, both Totti & Inzaghi were being cited as Italy's new hopefuls & Inzaghi too did fairly well, but neither became what all Italy wanted, A new "fantasista" (Totti) & new Paolo Rossi (Inzaghi).
