Daniele De Rossi... ‘not a killer... nor a thug’.

Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi’s reputation was tarnished in 2006 when he elbowed United States striker Brian McBride and received a four-match ban.

De Rossi returned to play in the final against France, which saw the Azzurri clinch their fourth World Cup, but admits the incident still haunts him.

“I am ashamed of the elbow incident,” De Rossi told reporters yesterday.

“However, I’m not a killer, nor a thug. I love this game and I’m not even envious if someone is better than me.”

De Rossi was also left out of Italy’s international friendly with Spain earlier this year after breaching Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli’s code of ethics.

He was handed a three-match Serie A ban for punching Inter’s Mauro Icardi during a league game.

“I don’t often react, but when it happens, it’s bad,” the 30-year-old said.

“I’m also sure it will never happen again. I repeat, elbows and punches are not my trademark.”

After experiencing an early exit in South Africa four years ago, De Rossi knows Italy must be sup-remely focused from the start.

They will take on England in their opener in Manaus on June 14 and will also face Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D.

And De Rossi does feel the need to prove himself again.

“In South Africa I didn’t do well,” he said.

“I was burned out as with Roma we had pushed Inter for the scudetto until the final game. The good feelings just weren’t there.

“We were convinced we were going to progress from the group and our minds were focused on the knock-out phase.

“However, our legs were way behind.”

De Rossi also wants to make sure this World Cup goes well because of what Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo has meant to him in the national team set-up.

He will never forget the reaction of the 35-year-old Pirlo after the elbow incident in 2006.

“When in the World Cup in Germany I was destroyed by the four-match ban, Andrea invited me to have supper and he didn’t make me feel like a reject,” he said.

“This World Cup is a bit like a goodbye. This will be the last time I will play with Pirlo and I don’t want to think about it otherwise I will get emotional.”

De Rossi and Italy arrived in Rio on Friday and will take on Fluminense in a friendly today hoping to end a seven-game winless run.

The Azzurri will then travel to Manaus on Friday.