Baggio drops retirement hint - report

Former European Footballer of the Year Roberto Baggio says he could retire from the game at the end of this season.

Italian media reports
"There is a good chance I could close my career at the end of this season," the former Italian international said in comments reported by Italian media on Tuesday.

World Cup ambition
The 34-year-old former Juventus FC, Milan AC and Internazionale FC striker is currently in the second season of a two-year contract with Serie A club Brescia Calcio and has repeatedly said that he hopes to make the Italy squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. Italy need a point from their final qualifying game against Hungary in Parma on 6 October to ensure a spot in the finals.

Wait and see
When asked about his chances of making national coach Giovanni Trapattoni's final 22-man squad, Baggio, who has not appeared for the Azzurri since March 1999, said: "I am not saying anything else about that. My views are well known - let's see what happens in the end."

Penalty miss
Baggio has played for Italy in three FIFA World Cup tournaments -in 1990, 1994 and 1998. In 1994 his inspired form helped his country reach the final, although once there he missed a penalty in the deciding shoot out against victors Brazil.

Resisting calls
Trapattoni has so far resisted calls for Baggio to return to the Italian squad, but has left the door open, saying that his performances will be monitored.

High point
Nicknamed the 'Divine Ponytail', Baggio began his career with his local side Vicenza Calcio before making his name with AC Fiorentina. His move to Juventus in 1990 began the most successful period of his career where he won the UEFA Cup and was named European Player of the Year in 1993. He won the Italian title with the Turin club in 1995 before spending spent two largely unhappy seasons with Milan AC before he made a surprise switch to Bologna FC where he won back his place in the Italy squad for the 1998 finals.

Brescia move
A move to Internazionale followed but Baggio found his opportunities limited at the San Siro and he moved to unfashionable Brescia at the start of last season after turning down a number of offers from high-profile foreign clubs.