I want to be remembered says Baggio

GOTHENBERG, Sweden, June 1 (AFP)

Roberto Baggio may be designated as a substitute, but Italys best-known footballer said Monday he is determined to leave his mark on France 98. Italy are preparing for their final pre-World Cup friendly here on Tuesday evening against Sweden, with Baggio ready to stand in for injured ace Alessandro Del Piero. Baggio, who hasnt started for Italy since November 1994, is desperate to play down any talk of competition with his former teammate at Juventus. " Im totally relaxed about it all, " he said. " I know that the first-choice is Del Piero, Ive already won my World Cup by just being called up to the squad. " But he added: " If the opportunity arises, Ill do what I can to make people remember me, just like at USA 94. He went on: " Ive come here knowing the way things are. Its true Im Roberto Baggio, but in this squad, there are people who were chosen before me. All Im saying is that if the need arises, Ill be ready. " Im living through this with a sense of calm, and obviously, with hope. " It took the best goalscoring season of his career for the 31-year-old to win his place on coach Cesare Maldinis list of 22. And nearly a fortnight later, it is still a source of pride. " In July a year ago, how many of you would have bet on me being here? " he asked reporters. " I was the only one. " Now he has to shine here after a tough physical work-out at Italys Coverciano training base outside Florence. " The problem with games like these is that they come just before the finals, when your body hasnt fully absorbed all the preparation thats gone into it. Clearly, we wont be at 100 percent. We wont be really brilliant. " I remember playing against Costa Rica in the United States, the last match before the finals in 94. We felt so heavy, it seemed the training had done more harm than good. " This time, the preparation has been over a shorter period, but its been just as intense. The advantage we have this time is that theres less pressure on the squad than there was then. In 1994, there was more tension. " Returning to the current team, Baggio was again probed as to whether Del Piero could trust him not to usurp his place as the first-choice striker. One reporter asked whether Baggio standing in for Del Piero was like a wife announcing to her husband that she was going out that night with her old friend Richard Gere. " But I dont look like him, " quipped Baggio. " And Im shorter. "

© - AFP - 1998