Italian Roundup

Totti, Inzaghi uncertain for Euro 2004 qualifier

ROME (Reuters) -- In-form strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Francesco Totti were named in Giovanni Trapattoni's Italy squad for two Euro 2004 qualifying matches later this month although injury could keep both strikers on the sideline.

The pair have scored six goals apiece after just four games in this year's Serie A championship, making them obvious frontline choices for Italy's qualifier against Yugoslavia in Naples on October 12 and Wales in Cardiff on October 16.

However, Totti injured his knee during Roma's 4-1 win over Udinese on Saturday, while Inzaghi's availability depends on the result of medical tests on a sore left foot.

The discomfort did not prevent him scoring a hat-trick in Milan's 6-0 weekend victory against Torino, but his club will be anxious to protect him so early in the season.

If Inzaghi is forced to sit out the games, Trapattoni may give a second chance to Chievo's Massimo Marazzina, who made his first appearance for the national side in Italy's 1-0 win over the United States in February.

Trapattoni has called Andrea Pirlo into the midfield, in the hope that the 23-year-old will reproduce the speed and vision that is fuelling Milan's current glut of goals.

At the back, Milan keeper Christian Abbiati gets a call-up ahead of Francesco Toldo, who missed Inter's weekend Serie A because of a back strain.

Both, however, are unlikely to start as long as Gianluigi Buffon - Trapattoni's first-choice goalkeeper - is fit.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Christian Abbiati (AC Milan).

Defenders: Daniele Adani (Inter Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Inter), Francesco Coco (Inter), Matteo Ferrari (Parma), Mark Iuliano (Juventus), Alessandro Nesta (Milan), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Christian Panucci (AS Roma).

Midfielders: Luciano Zauri (Atalanta), Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Luigi Di Biagio (Inter), Cristiano Doni (Atalanta), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Damiano Tommasi (Roma).

Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Filippo Inzaghi (Milan), Massimo Marazzina (Chievo), Vincenzo Montella (Roma), Francesco Totti (Roma).

Berlusconi enjoys victorious return to San Siro

ROME (Reuters) -- Italian Prime Minister and AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi praised the performance of his team after watching them thrash Serie A rivals Torino 6-0 at the San Siro stadium on Sunday.

"We're on the right road to return to the past and to the Milan team of the Invincibles," he told reporters after the match, comparing the present Milan side with the one that won the European Cup three times between 1989 and 1994.

"It's a Milan that can make a mark, for sure," he added. "Not only this year, but in the future. We've got [Andrea] Pirlo, [Clarence] Seedorf and [Andriy] Shevchenko and lots of other young players who can go on for a long time."

Berlusconi's visits to the San Siro have become increasingly rare as he has devoted more time to politics and his Sunday appearance was the first this season.

He may want to come more often now that his team is doing so well. Milan lie in second place in Serie A, two points behind leaders Inter and two ahead of reigning champions Juventus.

Their record in Europe where they top Champions League group G is even more impressive, with away wins against Spanish side Deportivo Coruna and 2000 winners Bayern Munich.

The game against Torino, however, was the heaviest defeat Milan had inflicted on another side all season.

"We wanted goals and goals are what we got," Berlusconi said. "It was spectacular, a really special pleasure. Let's hope we continue like this, I really enjoyed myself."

Berlusconi was also present the last time his side won 6-0, against city rivals Inter Milan on May 11, 2001, two days before he won the election to become Italian Prime Minister.

 

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