Soccer: Rossi angry at being left off Italy World Cup roster

(ANSA) - Rome, June 2 - Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi reacted angrily via Twitter Monday to news that he was left off the roster for Italy at this month's FIFA World Cup, saying that despite rumours, he was in great shape and not afraid of a challenge.
    "Everyone says (I'm) out of shape: ask anyone the results from the tests during the week and the game," Rossi posted in a tweet.
    "You will be surprised. Challenges? Fear? What a laugh...," wrote Rossi. Rossi was notably absent from the 23-man roster posted Sunday by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.
    Rossi had been injured, triggering speculation that he had not had enough to time to get back into form before the World Cup in Brazil, where Italy is in Group D along with England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
    Still, Rossi added a tweet with his support for his fellow Italians.
    "Now the most important thing will be to cheer for Italy...Forza Azzurri," he wrote.
    Also missing from Prandelli's list was AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, who reportedly suffered a broken leg in Saturday's warm-up before a friendly between Italy and Ireland. The list includes goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus, Salvatore Sirigu of PSG and Mattia Perin of Genoa.
    Defenders are Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus, Gabriel Paletta of Parma, Mattia De Sciglio and Ignazio Abate of Milan, and Matteo Darmian of Turin.
    Midfields are Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio of Juventus, Daniele De Rossi from Roma, Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti of PSG, Antonio Candreva from Lazio, Alberto Aquilani of Fiorentina and Marco Parolo of Parma. Forwards on the list are: Mario Balotelli of AC Milan, Antonio Cassano of Parma, Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile of Turin, Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli and on reserve is Andrea Ranocchia of Inter Milan.