Roma captain Totti remains in international retirement

MILAN - Francesco Totti was left out of Italy's provisional World Cup squad on Tuesday after coach Marcello Lippi decided against bringing the World Cup winner out of international retirement.

AS Roma captain Totti, who quit the national side after its 2006 World Cup triumph, had considered making himself available for the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa but the inconsistent Azzurri will have to do without his creativity.

Lippi has not disclosed if Totti had offered to play.