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World Cup 2010: Daniele De Rossi Believes Italy Are Not The Same Without Francesco Totti
Midfielder also holds hands up for his part in Paraguay's opening goal...
15-Jun-2010 3:48:00 AM
By Salvatore Landolina & Amar Singh
Daniele De Rossi has criticised the current Italy team and believes that they lack star quality with the likes of Francesco Totti absent from the World Cup party.
The defending champions opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay and needed a second-half De Rossi goal to cancel out Antolin Alcaraz's opener in the first period.
De Rossi admitted the Azzurri were collectively disappointed but was quick to pinpoint the problem.
"We are not very happy, we wanted to win the match," said the Roma midfielder. "We knew that Paraguay was a good team, it's very difficult when you play a South American team.
"We are a different team to 2006 - we have no Totti and no players like him."
De Rossi also accepted his share of the blame for the draw, admitting he should have been marking Alcaraz when the Paraguayan - who joins Wigan Athletic next season - headed in after 38 minutes.
"On their first goal I was distracted as it was my responsibility to mark him, and we were angry, I was angry," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"They were aggressive and we were not that great in the final third and you pay for it at this level.
"Probably we have to improve in the final third, we have to be more concrete up there as we lack the final finish.
"We all have to continue growing, it's not about individuals improving, we have to improve as a team."
The defending champions opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay and needed a second-half De Rossi goal to cancel out Antolin Alcaraz's opener in the first period.
De Rossi admitted the Azzurri were collectively disappointed but was quick to pinpoint the problem.
"We are not very happy, we wanted to win the match," said the Roma midfielder. "We knew that Paraguay was a good team, it's very difficult when you play a South American team.
"We are a different team to 2006 - we have no Totti and no players like him."
De Rossi also accepted his share of the blame for the draw, admitting he should have been marking Alcaraz when the Paraguayan - who joins Wigan Athletic next season - headed in after 38 minutes.
"On their first goal I was distracted as it was my responsibility to mark him, and we were angry, I was angry," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"They were aggressive and we were not that great in the final third and you pay for it at this level.
"Probably we have to improve in the final third, we have to be more concrete up there as we lack the final finish.
"We all have to continue growing, it's not about individuals improving, we have to improve as a team."
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