WORLD CUP 2006: Totti a concern for Italy

ROME - Francesco Totti recovered from leg surgery in record time. Now he faces another huge challenge: being in top form for the World Cup. That's the biggest question regarding Italy's lineup entering this year's tournament. Coach Marcello Lippi tried several options in a two-day training camp earlier this month, but he makes no secret that "no one else can play Totti's position." "I'm optimistic regarding Totti," Lippi said. "But now comes the tough part. He's going to go up against opponents that won't have much regard for him." In Italy, Totti is considered a national treasure, a player with unlimited skills who can play every attacking position. In Rome, it's not going too far to say he's as famous as the pope. When Totti broke his left leg and strained ligaments in his ankle during AS Roma's Serie A match at Empoli on Feb. 19, the country's World Cup hopes took a big hit. After he had surgery a day later, Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's premier at the time, visited Totti in his hospital room. Several screws were inserted into Totti's leg and he embarked on a rigorous rehabilitation to make it back in time for the tournament in Germany. "A lot of people said that I wouldn't make it," Totti said. "I wanted to show what type of character Romans have. I worked hard." Totti said part of his inspiration to return so quickly was that this will "99 percent" likely be his final World Cup. He turns 30 in September. "I could play another European championship and another World Cup. But I want to dedicate myself to my family, be with my son, and think about Roma," said Totti, whose first son Cristian was born in November. "There are too many training camps, too much stress. From July to July there's never a break," he added. Totti's talent makes him a consistent target for defenders and hard fouls, such as the foul from behind by Empoli's Richard Vanigli that sent him to the operating room. Replays of the injury were gruesome to watch, with Totti's foot turned nearly all the way around from its normal position. In Italy's opening game of the 2004 European Championship, Totti was constantly harassed by Denmark's Christian Poulsen and responded by spitting at the midfielder. UEFA banned Totti for three games and Italy was eliminated in the first round before Totti could return. So Totti also has some work to do in Germany to improve his reputation abroad. If Totti doesn't regain his form, Lippi will likely change his lineup. The Azzurri's preferred lineup is a 4-3-1-2, with Totti in the '1' or playmaker position centered behind forwards Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni. Without Totti, Lippi has gone to a 4-3-3 and inserted Juventus' Alessandro Del Piero on the left, slightly dropped back, alongside Gilardino and Toni. That was the lineup Lippi used in Italy's 4-1 friendly win over Germany in March. "With Totti behind us, though, it's something altogether different," Toni said. "At his position, if he's healthy, Francesco is the best player in the world."-AP