Italy coach Marcello Lippi was diplomatic over the latest calls for Roma captain Francesco Totti to be included in his squad.

Lippi heaped praise on Totti for his hat-trick against Bari on Sunday.

And when asked about his World Cup chances, Lippi smiled: "Italy is a country in love with football and has lovers of individual teams to which each propose their favorite characters to the national coach - from Totti to Balotelli, from Del Piero to Cassano.

"But this is rightly so, it is the expression of the love that the Italians have for football."