Rossi Named to Italian National Team

Marcello Lippi announced the provisional Italian national team roster today on the FIGC website (official website notice here, Goal.com English summary here).  Few controversies were expected, as the Italian squad won the last World Cup and looked to return most of that roster.  There were however a few items of note:

• AS Roma stars Francesco Totti and Luca Toni were not on the 30-man roster.  Totti had retired following the 2006 World Cup triumph, but rumors abounded that he had made himself available to Lippi for this World Cup.  Toni was a sub in two international friendlies this year, and scored two goals in the 2006 World Cup.  He has however been battling injuries this season, appearing in a total of 30 matches in all competitions in 2009-2010.
• Villareal forward Giuseppe Rossi made the cut over Juventus center back Nicola Legrottaglie.  This leaves the Azzurri with talent but youth in the middle of the defense – behind Cannavaro and Chiellini are players with six caps total.
• Juventus had the most players make the national team with 8.  They were followed by AC Milan (4) and Napoli (3).  Only seven players come from the current top four clubs in the standings, including none from Inter Milan.
• As expected, lightening rods Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli were left off the squad.

The squad will be cut to 23 players with four standbys on May 18.