Coach Cesare Prandelli said Tuesday that it would have been too risky to include Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi in Italy's World Cup squad.
Former Fiorentina boss Prandelli omitted Rossi, who has only recently returned to action following a knee-injury layoff, from his definitive 23-man roster after the 27-year-old striker gave a timid display in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Ireland. The American-born player, who scored 16 goals in Serie A last term despite missing almost half of the season with the injury, reacted angrily to the decision, using his Twitter account to deny that he was unfit or that he shied away from tackles against the Irish.
"Before the match I called Rossi and explained that I wanted to see something more from him on the field - the things a player does when he's over a big injury," Prandelli told reporters as he sought to explain arguably his most unpopular decision since he took over the national team in 2010.
"But I didn't see what I wanted to see. I realise that I have a great deal of responsibility to Fiorentina and their fans and the risk was too great.
"I was clear with him and told him that he hadn't completed the process of healing". Earlier on Tuesday team doctor Enrico Castellacci reassured Italy fans that Mario Balotelli is fit to play in the Azzurri's final warm-up game against Luxembourg in Perugia on Wednesday after media reports that the star AC Milan striker is suffering from a groin injury. "Balotelli is training," Castellacci said. "He strained a muscle and we're dealing with it. "He's fit to play".
The doctor added that tests showed Salvatore Sirigu, one of two back-up goalkeepers to Gianluigi Buffon, did not break any of his ribs when he hurt himself in training on Monday.
"It's an annoying, painful injury, but one we can deal with," he said. Defender Andrea Barzagli, however, looks set to miss the Luxembourg test because of a high temperature linked to a tonsil inflammation.
Italy are seventh or eighth favourites to land their fifth World Cup crown, according to most betting outfits.
Brazil and Spain top the betting followed by Germany, Argentina, Uruguay and dark horses Belgium.
The Azzurri start their campaign against England in Manaus, a city in the middle of the Amazon rain forest on June 14.
They travel around 1,450 km to the Atlantic coast for their other two group games, against Costa Rica and Uruguay, in Recife and Natal respectively.
Another big omission from Italy's World Cup squad in addition to Rossi is Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, who broke his leg against Ireland.
Italy squad. Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain), Mattia Perin (Genoa) Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma) Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain) Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli).
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