Rossi baffled after missing out on Italy squad again
Print Edition
ITALY forward Giuseppe Rossi was baffled after being left out of the World Cup squad, the third time in a row he has missed out on a major tournament.
Rossi, who has just recovered from his latest knee injury, took part in a week’s training and played Saturday’s friendly against Ireland, only to be left out when coach Cesare Prandelli trimmed his provisional 30-man squad to the final 23 on Sunday.
Rossi poured scorn on suggestions that he was still not fully fit. “Everyone is saying I’m out of shape: ask anyone the results of the tests from last week and from the match,” said the American-born forward on Twitter yesterday.
“You will be surprised. Challenges? Fear? What a laugh,” added Rossi, who is probably Italy’s most reliable forward when fully fit. “The most important thing now is to support Italy.”
Prandelli did not give any interviews on Sunday when the squad was announced but had said before the decision that Rossi would be judged on his fitness and his performance against Ireland.
Rossi was also one of the final cuts by then-coach Marcello Lippi in 2010, although Lippi said last week that he regretted that decision.
The following year, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing for Villarreal in a Spanish league match. He fought desperately to be fit for Euro 2012, only to re-injure the knee in training the following April, causing him to miss the tournament.
Rossi was born in New Jersey to Italian parents and was offered a chance to play for the US ahead of the 2006 World Cup, but he has always said it was his dream to play for the Azzurri. Now Rossi will have to wait until 2018 — when he’ll be 31 — for a chance to play in the World Cup.
Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne was selected instead for the 23-man squad.
Italy opens its World Cup campaign against England in Group D on June 14 then faces Costa Rica and Uruguay.
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