Totti hopeful of starting berth
10 juni 2006, 10:50
Italy playmaker Francesco Totti is confident he will be fit for his team's opening World Cup match against Ghana on June 12.
The Roma forward, who recently recovered from a serious leg injury, played for 45 minutes of Italy's final warm-up match against a Duisburg Under-19 side on Friday. Totti shone in his team's 5-1 victory and he is hopeful he will be in peak condition for the clash against the African nation - should Italy coach Marcello Lippi decide to select him.
"I am improving," he said. "I know that Lippi will be the one to make the final decision and I will respect it. But I came to this World Cup to play and I'm ready to play against Ghana. I don't think that if Lippi chooses me it will be a gamble."
