When Italian striker Francesco Totti made his way across to the media tent at Italy's training ground in Geel, near Antwerp yesterday, it seemed that 1000 microphones, cameras, notebooks and elbows moved with him. As the AS Roma striker settled himself down for his "interview", one feared for his health as the media posse moved in.

We need not have worried. Totti survived the media onslaught, eschewing all polemics in his soft-spoken, almost shy way. Indeed, if he shows as much dexterity at rounding Romania's defence in tomorrow night's quarter-final clash in Brussels as he did in avoiding controversial answers to leading questions yesterday, then Romania are in for a difficult night.

The reason for all the fuss was linked to the ongoing national debate as to whether Totti or Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero will line out against Romania. Totti was the original first choice at this tournament, but a spectacular late Del Piero goal in Monday's 2-1 win against Sweden has underlined the Juventus player's chance.

Eager reporters noted that during yesterday's kick-around it was Del Piero who started in the "first choice" side, with Totti playing in the reserves. "It's good for Italy and it's good for the boss (Dino Zoff) that there are two good players in contention for one spot . . . I certainly don't consider myself an automatic first choice. We're both at the same level," he said.

"The fact that I was in the reserve team this morning means nothing. It is tomorrow, the day before the match, that counts. The boss never says who is playing until the day before . . . because it is only the day before that you start practising for precise set-piece situations." Those looking for a polemical answer were disappointed. At 24 years of age and 15 times capped, Totti has eight years of Serie A football behind him. He knows the media game too well.

He does not say it, but he is probably slightly surprised to be in this situation. For much of this winter, a debate raged as to why Zoff would not use him in his favoured central, play-making role just behind the front two strikers - the role he fulfils, often brilliantly, for Roma.

When Zoff announced earlier this spring that he did not consider Totti as a potential playmaker, but rather as a striker, it seemed that his chances of making Euro 2000 were remote. A late injury to Christian Vieri, Del Piero's erratic Serie A form and Totti's good seasonal finish changed all that right on the eve of the tournament.

Whether or not he plays tomorrow, and the most likely conclusion is that he will, Totti is convinced that Italy have the necessary quality to go all the way at Euro 2000, saying: "We have a goalkeeper in excellent form, a defence of steel, a solid midfield and a good attack. The way we are playing at the moment, we're guaranteed to set up at least five or six scoring chances in a game." Guess who might just put away one of those chances.