Rossi dropped from Italy squad

Italy have dropped Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi from their 23-man World Cup squad.

Rossi, who played in last summer's Confederations Cup, has been cut by coach Marcello Lippi along with goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, defender Mattia Cassani, midfielder Andrea Cossu and striker Marco Borriello.

The decision to drop Rossi means there will be no foreign-based players in Italy's World Cup party.

Among those who have made the final squad are Napoli forward Fabio Quagliarella and Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti.

Bocchetti's inclusion was the biggest surprise considering the 23-year-old has made just three appearances for the Azzurri.

As expected, there was no place among the 23 for Milan striker Borriello, who had not taken part in any of Italy's World Cup qualifiers.

Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi has been included despite sustaining a left knee injury during yesterday's training session in Sestriere.

Camoranesi, a member of Italy's World Cup-winning squad four years ago in Germany, underwent tests yesterday evening which ruled out meniscus damage.

He will miss Italy's next two friendlies against Mexico and Switzerland but is expected to recover in time for the Azzurri's World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 14.

The squad

Goalkeepers: G. Buffon (Juventus), M. De Sanctis (Napoli), F. Marchetti (Cagliari).

Defenders: G. Zambrotta (Milan), F. Cannavaro (Juventus), G. Chiellini (Juventus), C. Maggio (Napoli), L. Bonucci (Bari), D. Criscito (Genoa), S. Bocchetti (Genoa).

Midfielders: A. Pirlo (Milan), G. Gattuso (Milan), D. De Rossi (Roma), R. Montolivo (Fiorentina), M. Camoranesi (Juventus), A. Palombo (Sampdoria), C. Marchisio (Juventus), S. Pepe (Udinese).

Forwards: F. Quagliarella (Napoli), V. Iaquinta (Juventus), A. Di Natale (Udinese), A. Gilardino (Fiorentina), G. Pazzini (Sampdoria).