Italy coach Lippi diplomatic over recall demand for Roma captain Totti

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."