Francesco Totti will feature for Italy in their Group E opener against Ghana on Monday.
"Totti will play, a part or all of the game, you can interpret that a number of ways," coach Marcello Lippi told a news conference on Sunday.
The forward was out of action for three months after breaking his ankle in February and has only once managed to play a full 90 minutes since returning.
"I've been evaluating his progress, as I have with all my players, and I have seen him improve considerably," said Lippi.
The coach said he had made up his mind about his starting line-up but would not be telling the players until Monday morning.
The other teams in the group are USA and Czech Republic.
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