Totti confident of Italy success

Francesco Totti believes England will prove a ‘difficult’ obstacle for Italy to overcome in Euro 2012 on Sunday.

The Roma captain feels Cesare Prandelli’s troops deserve credit for emerging from a group containing Spain, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland, but is well aware that the going is about to get much tougher.

“Italy has had a good Euros up until now,” Totti told Sky Sport Italia. “It was important to get through the first round.

“But the knockout phase begins now and the match against England will be difficult, but Italy can do well.”

Totti was speaking over the phone from Sardinia, where he is on holiday.

However, the attacker said he had been keeping himself in shape because he knows he is in for a punishing pre-season with new coach, Zdenek Zeman, who has returned for a second spell at Stadio Olimpico.

“Now it is all beginning again, and the training will be tough,” Totti said. “Fortunately, I know Zeman well and I know what I’m in for. So, I try to get myself ready for the start of pre-season.”

Totti was capped 58 times by Italy before deciding to retire from international football after the 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany.