WORLD CUP: A PARTNERSHIP OF SUCCESS FOR ITALY PIRLO, TOTTI COMBINE TO LEAD AZZURRI TO THE FINAL.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

HAMBURG, Germany - Francesco Totti might rival the pope as Rome's most beloved figure, but he's hardly Italy's favorite playmaker of the moment. Not that he has a problem with that.

Andrea Pirlo, a deep-lying midfielder with sublime touch and vision, has emerged as the heart of the Italian midfield and one of the primary reasons the Azzurri will play Sunday for the World Cup title.

Pirlo's precision running Italy's attack has enabled Totti, the country's most popular soccer star, to slowly regain his fitness and form following an ankle injury last February. Clearly out of sync when the tournament began, Totti is starting to make an impact as the streaking Azzurri have marched toward a showdown with France in Berlin.

Their partnership could be decisive if Italy captures its fourth World Cup championship.

``Getting here is the realization of a dream,'' said Totti, who played the full 120 minutes in Tuesday's semifinal overtime victory over Germany. ``We only need a little bit more to make history."

The Azzurri, riding a 24-game unbeaten steak, have improved with nearly every performance in Germany, thriving with an impenetrable defense and a superb midfield marshaled by Pirlo with help from deputies Gennaro Gattuso, Simone Perrotta and defender Gianluca Zambrotta. With the bulk of the heavy work conducted by those around him, Pirlo has been a creative force, orchestrating an attack that has seen 10 players score the 11 goals.

He scored a sizzling opener as Italy started with a 2-0 win over Ghana -- Black Stars star Michael Appiah summed it up: ``Andrea Pirlo, he's the danger man'' -- then set up Alberto Gilardino's goal in a wonderful performance against the U.S., then was the pivotal midfield figure in the victories over the Czech Republic and Ukraine. Pirlo evaded two defenders to slip the pass to Fabio Grosso to beat Germany as overtime neared its end.

He was the creative force behind the Italy U-21 team that won the European title in 2000, scoring 15 goals in 37 games, but struggled at Inter Milan after loans to Reggina and Brescia. A move to AC Milan in 2001 changed everything: Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti repositioned him from an attacking midfield slot to just in front of the backline.

With Gattuso alongside and Brazilian star Kaka in front, Pirlo quickly developed into Italy's best playmaker.

Former Italy coach Giovanni Trappatoni gave Pirlo little chance with the full national team, but current boss Marcello Lippi provided him a massive role when he took charge after the 2004 European Championship.

Totti is treasured in Italy, especially in Rome, where he has spent his entire career at AS Roma, turning down offers to join better-heeled rivals in the north. Less a pure playmaker than a provider -- he's at his best as a withdrawn forward, just behind the front two or lone striker, with the freedom to roam as he chooses.

Pirlo's emergence has given him extended freedom to excel. Pirlo's service has provided opportunity to score goals or feed others. It's a complementary relationship.

``Totti always has a move ready right away to set up the strikers,'' Pirlo said. ``It doesn't change anything for me. My job is to provide the ball to the midfielders.''

Totti, the key figure in Italy's run to the 2000 European Championship title game, was looking to make amends following devastating outings at the past two major championships. He was red-carded in Italy's controversial second-round loss to South Korea at the 2002 World Cup, then was banned for three games at Euro 2004 after spitting at Denmark's Christian Poulson.

Totti suffered a broken ankle in a Serie A game in mid-February, throwing Italy's World Cup hopes into disarray. Surgery was required, and when the Italians gathered in advance of the tournament, he was just returning to the field.

He described himself as ``70 percent'' during the opener and was held out of the starting lineup for the second-round game against Australia. He came on in the second half and converted a penalty kick deep in stoppage time to prod Italy to the quarterfinals.

``The team has steadily improved, especially Totti,'' Lippi said afterward. ``His penalty kick was really, really important. Also psychologically. It energized him.''

That was apparent in the 3-0 romp over Ukraine, Totti setting up one of the goals, and especially against the Germans. He nearly put the Azzurri ahead at the start of overtime, sending a shot into the crossbar.

``On the shot off the crossbar I started to have some bad thoughts.'' Totti said. ``Before Grosso's goal, I was already thinking about how I was going to shoot my penalty. But we kept on believing and kept on attacking, and we got two extremely important goals.

``It's an indescribable feeling.''

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Midfielder Andrea Pirlo, left, and Francesco Totti form a potent duo for Italy.

Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images