Friday 7th September 2001(onefootball.com)
Roberto Baggio suggested on Friday that he had received encouragement from coach Giovanni Trapattoni in his bid to be chosen for Italy's World Cup squad. "I was with Trap for three years at Juve and he knows what I can give," said the veteran. The pair met in Cinisello Balsamo, a district in the Milan suburbs, where Brescia striker Baggio received a prize in memory of Gaetano Scirea, the Juventus captain who died in a car crash ten years ago. Baggio and Trapattoni had a short meeting and the Azzurri legend later commented: "Now I will do everything to convince Trapattoni that I am worth a place. "Obviously I can't just say: 'Excuse me, may I come with you to Japan?' I have to play well this season. But Trapattoni knows me well and a fourth World Cup would be a dream for me." The former Milan and Fiorentina star hopes his experience at the top level might secure his ticket to Asia. "I remember what happened at USA 94," he said. "The national team were not united, we were a group of individuals who learned to play together in a few days. In that World Cup we reached the final, but it was not just down to me. Everybody made a contribution." The Divine Ponytail also acknowledged that his position in the Italy line-up is well covered by Roma skipper Francesco Totti. "He is coming off the back of a marvellous season. I hope he wins the Golden Ball, as I did in 1993. "I rate Totti highly, but I believe that he can still improve. When he is a complete player, Italy will have a very great leader on the field," he added.