FLORENCE, Italy -- United States-born forward Giuseppe Rossi was left off Italys final 23-man squad for the World Cup on Sunday. http://www.hockeycanadiensfanshop.com/Doug-Harvey-Jersey/ . Coach Cesare Prandelli apparently judged that Rossi hadnt fully recovered from his latest right knee injury in January. It was likely a difficult decision since Rossi has always been one of Prandellis favourite players. Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne was selected instead. Rossi played 71 minutes in Italys 0-0 draw with Ireland on Saturday but failed to make much of an impact. 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. Now, Rossi will have to wait until 2018 -- when hell be 31 -- for a chance to play in the World Cup. Also cut from Prandellis 30-man preliminary squad were: forward Mattia Destro; Brazilian-born midfielder Romulo, who has been dealing with a muscle problem; and fullbacks Manuel Pasqual and Christian Maggio. Key midfielder Riccardo Montolivo was ruled out after breaking the tibia bone in his left leg against Ireland. Center back Andrea Ranocchia was selected as a 24th man to go to Brazil as a possible replacement for Andrea Barzagli, who has been fighting injury all season. Rossi was born in New Jersey to Italian parents and was offered a chance to play for the United States at an early age but he has always said it was his dream to play for the Azzurri. Rossi led Serie A with 14 goals in 17 matches with Fiorentina until he re-injured his right knee in January, sidelining him for four months. He returned a month ago but has not played a full 90 minutes since coming back and occasionally appeared hesitant against Ireland. Rossi initially tore his right anterior cruciate ligament during a match with Villarreal against Real Madrid in October 2011 and needed three operations before returning with Fiorentina in May 2013. Insigne scored twice when his Napoli club beat Rossis Fiorentina 3-1 in the Italian Cup a month ago. That was Rossis first match back. Besides sure starter Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Torino strike partners Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci were also chosen up front. Cassano made the squad following a resurgent season with Parma. After two years away from the national team, his appearance against Ireland was his first since the 2012 European Championship final. Immobile led Serie A with 22 goals in 33 appearances and Cerci is a reliable winger. Torino fullback Matteo Darmian, who made his Italy debut against Ireland and can play on either the right or the left, was also included, along with Argentine-born centre back Gabriel Paletta. In midfield, the newcomers are Paris Saint-Germains Marco Verratti and Parmas Marco Parolo. Verratti, in particular, shined against Ireland and is considered an eventual replacement for Andrea Pirlo. Four-time champion Italy opens its World Cup campaign against England in Group D on June 14 then faces Costa Rica on June 20 and Uruguay on June 24. The Azzurri play Luxembourg in Perugia on Wednesday then fly out to Brazil a day later. ------ Italy: 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), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma). 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 Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain). Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli). http://www.hockeycanadiensfanshop.com/Patrick-Roy-Jersey/ . Catch the game on TSN starting at 9pm et/6pm pt. The Kings are 0-2-1 on their final trip of the regular season. They end the campaign at home on Saturday versus the Pacific Division-champion Anaheim Ducks before kicking off a first-round playoff matchup with the second-place San Jose Sharks. http://www.hockeycanadiensfanshop.com/Stanley-Cup-Jersey/ .ca. Hi Kerry, In the Boston-Buffalo game on Wednesday night in the second period, Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers slashes Bruins forward Brad Marchand and then punches him in the head! How and why does Marchand get the penalty, with no call on Myers? He then scores a go-ahead goal! My question would be - does a supervising official between periods give the refs the talking down a player would get from his coach? This call could cost a team two points on very questionable officiating! Thanks,Ken MacAskill Ken: Both you and broadcast analyst Joe Micheletti made the correct call on this play.Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Nate Robinson had 20 points to lead seven Denver scorers in double figures and the Nuggets held on for a 109-106 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick both missed 3-pointers during a Clippers flurry in the final seconds after Blake Griffin missed a free throw on purpose with 12.6 ticks left. Wilson Chandler added 16 points and Kenneth Faried scored 14 for the Nuggets, who snapped a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in their last nine. Hopefully we can stay level, win a few games in a row, said Chandler. Griffin had 32 points and 12 rebounds to lead Los Angeles, Jamal Crawford scored 20 off the bench and Chris Paul added 17 points and 15 assists. Clippers players were whistled for five technical fouls, including four in the fourth quarter. Coaches and players get technicals for losing their composure, said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. I dont know if we lost our composure today, but Im pretty sure we did. They are 2-3 since a nine-game winning streak. They recovered from a 59-43 deficit at halftime by scoring the first 16 ppoints of the third quarter to tie the game. http://www.hockeycanadiensfanshop.com/Maurice-Richard-Jersey/. Griffin and Matt Barnes had six points apiece in the flurry and DeAndre Jordan scored the other four. Neither team led by double digits after that. The Clippers carried a three-point advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets scored the next nine, then led by seven with 7 1/2 minutes remaining. LA tied the score several times down the stretch before Denver took the lead for good on Danilo Gallinaris free throws with 3:04 remaining. That sparked an 8-0 run punctuated by 3-pointers from Chandler and Gallinari. After Griffin missed the second of his two free throws at the end of the game, Crawford clanked his straightaway 3 off the rim and Redick also found metal near the sideline. Game Notes Barnes scored 16 and Jordan had 11 points and 14 rebounds for LA ... Timofey Mozgov scored 13 for Denver, Arron Afflalo had 12 points and Ty Lawson scored 10 with 14 assists. Gallinari also scored 10 in the win ... The Clippers host Milwaukee on Saturday ... The Nuggets finish a four-game homestand on Saturday against Indiana. 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