Cesare Prandelli, manager of the Italian National team, has submitted his twenty-three man roster for the World Cup in Brazil. The one shocker is that striker Giuseppe Rossi will not be going to Brazil as he has been left out.
Rossi plays for Fiorentina and was leading Serie A in goals scored early on until he got injured and missed four months of the season. He had not looked fully fit since his return and in yesterday’s match against Ireland looked hesitant at times. In his place, Prandelli decided to take Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne.
Roma striker Mattia Deestro was also left out of the twenty-three man roster today. AC Milan midfielder Ricardo Montolivo broke his tibia against Ireland so he was obviously left out as well. He will be a big loss come Brazil because of his experience and the fact he was a starter for this squad.
Looking at Italy’s squad, I have to say they still have an array of talent and could be dangerous this World Cup. They are grouped with Uruguay and England, as well as Costa Rica. Italy seem to be flying under the radar some and I think if they get out of this tough group, they can go far with this squad.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain).
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan).
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 Verrati (Paris Saint Germain).
Strikers: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli).
