After a convincing and impressive 3-1 win by France over world champion Italy in Paris last night, the Italian press have its knives out for new coach Roberto Donadoni, who has now drawn one and lost two in his first three matches in charge of the Azzurri. Saturday’s 1-1 draw with lowly Lithuania was followed by yesterday’s limp display against France. It’s an amazing fall from grace for a team that less than two months ago won six matches and drew one en route to lifting the World Cup. Donadoni is now searching for excuses, and chief among them is the absence of several World Cup stars who are either still resting after this summer’s exertions or lack fitness following the two-month layoff. Serie A has yet to open, so its players should be shorter of fitness than their Spanish and English counterparts, whose seasons began between two and three weeks ago. Donadoni singled out the absence of Francesco Totti as being particularly keenly felt last night. “As for Totti … we agreed to speak every once in a while to assess his physical condition,” the Italy coach said. “I will call him, as I will do with the other world champions who were not in Paris. I don’t want all the attention focused on Totti, but Italy now really need him.” Forwards Vicenzo Iaquinta, Luca Toni, and Alessandro Del Piero are the other World Cup winners who have yet to be recalled. After two matches, Italy stands in second-to-last place, five points behind leaders Scotland and France.