Roma and Italy legend Francesco Totti says a World Cup without the Azzurri is like ‘Rome without Colosseum.’
The ex-Giallorossi captain was the Serie A ambassador at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where he arrived with his new partner Noemi Bocchi.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia before the award ceremony, he said that “a World Cup without Italy is like Rome without Colosseum.
“It’s unusual and, for we Italians, is more than negative,” he continued.
“We’ll follow the World Cup in a different way, but it remains a competition with great teams.”
The 46-year-old won the World Cup with Italy in 2006 but is unsure about who could lift the Cup in Qatar next month.
“France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain [are among the candidates], but there isn’t a real favourite. Anything can happen at a World Cup and playing until December, you don’t know the fitness level of players.”
Totti hopes José Mourinho’s Roma can earn a top-four finish, while Napoli, coached by his arch-rival Luciano Spalletti are the main candidate for the title.
“If they continue like this, other contenders won’t have many chances,” admitted the ex-No.10.
“Milan, Inter and Juventus never give up, so it will be a nice season until the end. You have to see how players return from the World Cup, but if Napoli remain this consistent, it will be hard to stop them.”
Totti retired in 2017 after several disputes with at-the-time Roma boss Spalletti who also left the club at the end of 2016-17.
Totti spent his entire playing career with the Giallorossi, scoring 307 goals in 786 appearances and winning the Serie A title in 2000-01.
Well said, I am having a hard time accepting this world cup without Italy.
Well its now 8 years with a missing colosseum and no one done anything about it