The Roma captain will wear the prestigious number 10 shirt and has inherited the mantle of Italy's saviour previously held by the 'Divine Ponytail.
Trapattoni has insisted that there should be no more talk about the man whose skills, goals and hairstyle lit up the previous three World Cup campaigns.
But for a mid-season injury it is likely that this World Cup would have been his swansong.
However, times change and Totti is the new man in the hole with Atalanta's young buck Doni as back-up.
This Azzurri side is most admired for its defence, but just consider these options in attack.
Christian Vieri is a must. The Inter centre-forward has an uncanny knack of scoring in just about every game he plays, whether it's a brilliant left shot, a bullet header, or an ungainly bundle.
But who will be his running mate? It could be Del Piero, more of an out-and-out striker these days whose form continues to waver from stunning to woeful.
The Azzurri tifosi can't forgive Del Piero those late misses in the Euro 2000 Final, but he has ended the season in fine form alongside the Vieri-like David Trezeguet at Juve.
Vincenzo Montella displayed his pedigree with an outstanding strike against England at Elland Road recently.
He is a predator in the box and has been given the legendary squad number of 20, worn so famously by another pocket goal machine Paolo Rossi in 1982.
And there's also Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Delvecchio, both hard-working forwards who featured favourably at Euro 2000 and in Italy's unbeaten record in qualifying.
The strength in depth, from one to 11, promises a strong showing, and all that with mentioning Roberto Baggio.
A whole piece on Italy and without mention of Roberto Baggio? I knew I couldn't do it.