Totti names two Italian players who could have made the 2006 World Cup squad

Credit: Photo by Icon sport

Francesco Totti thinks Federico Chiesa and Nicolò Barella could have been in Italy’s 2006 World Cup squad, but jokes that he would have replaced Federico Dimarco after a poor throw-in against Albania.

Legendary Italian striker Francesco Totti commented on the Azzurri’s EURO 2024 debut at an event in Rome on Sunday, as Sky Sport Italia reported. One of the former striker’s questions concerned the players who would have been part of the Azzurri squad in 2006 when Totti and his teammates won the World Cup. “Three or more, maybe even more. Surely, Chiesa and Barella could have played in that team. Winning the World Cup is every player’s dream. Gianluca Scamacca, a product of Roma, is a good striker and a physical beast,” said Francesco Totti. However, Totti was concerned about Dimarco’s performance against Albania, as a poor throw from the Inter defender cost Italy a goal in the opening seconds. “That’s why I couldn’t be a coach. I would immediately replace a player who made such a mistake,” he continued. During his playing career, Totti won a Serie A title with Roma and a World Cup with the Azzurri. The 47-year-old scored nine goals in 58 appearances for the Italian national team.