10 Biggest FIFA World Cup "What Ifs"

Francesco Totti is a once in a lifetime talent. A true Bandiera, and an anomaly in the modern game. Blessed with unmatched vision, passing, control, and a fearsome shot, he was one of the best players of his generation. Amongst perhaps the most gifted generation of players ever to grace the beautiful game, Totti was right at the top.

For all of his incredible performances, it was on the 26th of June, 2006, when Totti would make his biggest contribution to Italian football. Italy was struggling against Australia in their Last 16 tie. Out of ideas and looking more and more vulnerable to an Aussie counter, Fabio Grosso "won" a last-minute penalty.

Any non-Italian observer would say that Grosso "simulated". Totti stepped up, did what he does best, and the rest was history. However, had the referee called it correctly, the game would have gone to extra time. Wilting in the summer heat and performing well below par, Australia had every chance to dispatch the Azzurri.

If they did manage to do that, the footballing landscape could have changed rather dramatically. Zidane would most likely have had the ideal swansong, Calciopoli's damage would be tenfold and one could even say that Italian club football would not have rallied through the lean times that were to follow. No Kaka inspired Milan, no Mourinho's Inter and none of Conte's revolutionary Juventus.

In the end, Australia had to be the sacrificial lamb to spare us from such a grim footballing scene. Quite the 'what if.'