Confident Batistuta has World Cup on his mind

It has not been the best of weeks for Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta.

On Monday, his eagerly awaited return to Florence to face Fiorentina as an AS Roma player ended in a 3-1 defeat and on Wednesday he was left out of his national squad.

Roma's setback meant their lead at the top of Serie A was cut to six points and Batistuta's long-cherished dream of winning the Italian league title is under threat.