Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says Giuseppe Rossi always knew he wasn't in World Cup squad
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Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says Giuseppe Rossi always knew he would not be going to the World Cup and that the United States-born forward almost wasn't included in the provisional squad.
Speaking for the first time since revealing his 23-man squad, Prandelli explains he had been clear with Rossi since meeting with the forward in early May, shortly after his comeback from a four-month injury layoff.
On Tuesday, Prandelli says "I was going with the intention to tell him he wasn't in the 30. Then I understood that it could be a message for everyone. I told him that moment that he wasn't in the 23...I repeated it twice."
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Prandelli adds "It would have been easy to pick him, but it would have been too much of a risk."