Trap door open for Baggio
GENOA, Italy, April 27 (Reuters) - Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni refused on Tuesday to rule out the possibility that former world player of the year Roberto Baggio could yet make the Italian squad for Euro 2004 in June.
Playmaker Baggio, 37, is set to make his first appearance for Italy in five years when he lines up against Spain in a friendly on Wednesday in what had been billed as a farewell match.
Trapattoni told a news conference on Tuesday that Baggio's call-up, a month before he is due to retire from the game, was an 'act of recognition' for his achievements.
However, when pressed about Baggio's future, the Italy coach said: 'The future is in the hands of God. Roberto knows this is a long story that has been going on for two and a half to three years,' said Trapattoni.
'I have always left the door open and today he is here which is significant in itself.'
The Italy coach did, however, remind his audience that there was a squad of players who had led Italy to qualification for the finals which start in Portugal on June 12.
'In life you can never say never,' said Trapattoni. 'But (the decision) won't be on the basis of the media because if I listened to the media there would be 30 players in the squad and 10 million different formations.'
POUR WATER
Baggio, who has scored 27 goals in 55 Italy appearances, said he was proud to return to the Italy side at such a late stage in his career and he was clearly pleased at Trapattoni's words.
'I am very happy and I want to thank the boss and the Federation for giving me this chance,' he said. 'It is a great moment. If there is something else, well...but I want to enjoy this moment.
'Never say never means a lot to me even if I know I mustn't kid myself,' said the former Juventus forward.
While clearly not wanting to pour water on talk of a dramatic call-up, Baggio said that at the moment he was not reconsidering his decision to retire at the end of the season.
'No, today not. It wasn't an easy decision to take but it has been done,' he said.
However, when asked if a return to Serie A for Fiorentina, the club who gave him his first chance in the top flight, would tempt him to return to the Florence side for one more season.
Baggio said: 'It is really pleasing and gives me great satisfaction to hear people talking about such a prospect but no, the decision is almost definite.'
Trapattoni faced popular pressure to call up Baggio before the World Cup two years ago but the player's injury problems led him to rule out the possibility of taking 'The Divine Ponytail' to South Korea and Japan.
The Italy coach, though, rejected the popular view that he had snubbed Baggio.
'He was never closed out. We spoke about 15 days before (the squad announcement) and we had lunch together. There are a lot of things that you don't know about,' said Trapattoni.
'Roberto was with me for three years at Juventus and he always played,' he added.
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This made my day. Hopefully it doesnt all depend on his performance tommorow.
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