Del Piero likely to start for Italy: Lippi

Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, seen here during training on 24 May 2006, appears to have won his battle with fit-again Francesco Totti for the playmaking duties in Italy's World Cup campaign.

Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero appears to have won his battle with fit-again Francesco Totti for the playmaking duties in Italy's World Cup campaign.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has indicated that he will start Del Piero in an attacking midfield role previously occupied by Totti until the midfielder broke a bone in his left leg in February.

Totti has not played a game since suffering the injury and after seeing Del Piero during a week-long training camp Lippi clearly feels the diminutive attacker will be the better bet.

Del Piero's inclusion would see Italy adjust their formation to field a three-pronged attack, with Del Piero operating in the hole behind strikers Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino.

"Totti is difficult to replace but we have won without him before, and in all of our most recent matches," Lippi said.

Italy open their campaign against Ghana on June 12 in Hanover before matches against the USA and Czech Republic in Group E.