Italy doctor says Giuseppe Rossi was not omitted from World Cup squad due to medical concerns

FLORENCE, Italy – Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci says Giuseppe Rossi was not omitted from the World Cup squad because of ongoing knee problems.

Rossi took to Twitter on Monday to dismiss speculation that he was dropped because of concerns following an injury which sidelined him for almost half a season.

On Tuesday, Castellacci agrees, saying "we have never denied that from a medical point of view he was quite good and had recovered well enough. Against him were decisions of the technical, physical and psychological sort, that weren't easy."

Castellacci also says goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu has not broken his ribs and will make the trip to Brazil, while Mario Balotelli's sore legs are also not as serious as reported and he is available for the friendly against Luxembourg on Wednesday.