Rossi recalled to Italy squad

Rome, Oct 7 (IANS) Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi has been recalled for Italy’s World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Armenia.

Rossi, 26, has been in fine form scoring five goals in six Serie A games, and his recalling also means he has recovered from knee injury, reports Xinhua.

Italy have already qualified for the 2014 World Cup, so the head coach Cesare Prandelli has the opportunity to experiment his line-up in these last two Group B encounters.

Italy, who will convene at their Coverciano training ground Monday, will travel to Copenhagen to play Denmark Friday, then in four days will host Armenia at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples.

Roma full-back Balzaretti is also recalled for the first time since a friendly in November 2012, buoyed by his club’s perfect start to the campaign and a goal in the Rome Derby.

Mario Balotelli, meanwhile, is included despite earning a three-match ban for insulting a referee — the Italy coach has typically excluded players suspended from domestic competition for violent or aggressive conduct.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is retained and will pass Fabio Cannavaro’s all-time appearance record should he earn a 137th cap.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain).

Defenders: Abate (AC Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Roma), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), De Silvestri (Sampdoria), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Ranocchia (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Sunderland), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (AC Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Poli (AC Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain).

Forwards: Balotelli (AC Milan), Cerci (Torino), Gilardino (Genoa), Insigne (Napoli), Osvaldo (Southampton), Rossi (Fiorentina).