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Baggio: Return to action came too late

ROME, Italy -- Roberto Baggio has been left out of Italy's squad, ending his hopes of a fourth World Cup.

Coach Giovanni Trapattoni resisted public pressure to gamble on the 35-year-old Brescia striker, who last month completed a sensational return from knee surgery with two goals in his first game for three months.

Baggio fans gathered at the Italian Football Federation in Rome on Wednesday when the 23-man squad was announced.

A pregnant woman in the crowd promised to name her child Roberta to honour Baggio, ANSA news agency reported. And banners on display read: "For me, without Baggio there is no World Cup" and "Italy without Baggio is like France without Zidane, Japan without Nakata, Brazil without Ronaldo, England without Owen and Argentina without Veron," according to Reuters.

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But Trapattoni had said that Baggio's fitness was too big a risk and he has stuck with the players that guided Italy safely through the qualifiers, led by 33-year-old captain Paolo Maldini, who will be playing in his fourth World Cup.

Baggio made his debut for Italy in 1988 and has scored 27 goals in 55 internationals. He has not worn the national shirt for three years.

He starred in the team that went to the World Cup semifinals in 1990 before losing a penalty shootout to Argentina.

At the finals in the United States four years later, he was one of the outstanding players, scoring five goals as Italy reached the final against the Brazil. But in another penalty shootout he blasted his kick over the bar and Italy lost.

Baggio bounced back at France 98, scoring two goals in the tournament. He also held his nerve in a penalty shootout against France, although the hosts went through.

Italy are favourites to win Group G at this year's finals, against Ecuador, Mexico and Croatia.

Squad

Goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Francesco Toldo (Inter Milan), Christian Abbiati (AC Milan).

Defenders Fabio Cannavaro (Parma), Mark Iuliano (Juventus), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Nesta (Lazio), Christian Panucci (AS Roma).

Midfielders Francesco Coco (Barcelona), Luigi Di Biagio (Inter Milan), Angelo Di Livio (Fiorentina), Cristiano Doni (Atalanta), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Damiano Tommasi (AS Roma), Francesco Totti (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Cristiano Zanetti (Inter Milan).

Forwards Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Marco Delvecchio (AS Roma), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Vincenzo Montella (AS Roma), Christian Vieri (Inter Milan).