Italy say Totti will not face Scotland

Roma captain Francesco Totti will not be selected for this month's Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland in Bari, the country’s football bosses have confirmed.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed on Tuesday Totti, who is Serie A´s top scorer with 18 goals, will only return to the national team at the start of the 2007-08 campaign.

“Francesco Totti will return to the national team from September,” read a statement from the FIGC.

“That is when the player will have completed his recovery programme that he has undergone since the serious injury sustained before the World Cup.”

Totti did recover from a serious foot injury in time to help the Azzurri win the World Cup in Germany last summer but has not played for the national team since, much to the disappointment of national team coach Roberto Donadoni.

The 30-year-old Totti has missed just one Serie A game this season with Roma and has been pivotal for the Giallorossi in their progression to the last eight of the Champions League.

Roma are almost certain to qualify automatically for next year’s Champions League as well.

They are 16 points behind Internazionale in the Italian top flight, but they have a firm grip on second place with third-top Lazio a further 11 points adrift.

Totti, whose wife is expecting the couple’s second child, will miss the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Scotland on March 28 and Lithuania on June 6, but is expected to be available for the home clash against France on September 8.

The world champions are third in Group B, two points behind group leaders France and Scotland.

Donadoni is expected to announce the squad for the clash against Scotland on Sunday.