Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has explained why he did not select Giuseppe Rossi and Mattia Destro in his FIFA World Cup squad, according to FIFA.com.

Prandelli told www.figc.it "I didn't expect all these controversies. I don't want to make judgments but I feel the need to clarify what happened with regards to Rossi and Destro.

"With Rossi I have been very clear. The risk was great. I met with him in Coverciano (Italy's headquarters) on May 7 with the intention of telling him that he was not going to be in the 30-man preliminary squad.

"But then I thought he would be a good example for everyone. I thought that his story could be a beautiful one to tell."

Rossi missed four months of the season with a right knee injury but returned to action last month.

Another player that was left out was Roma's top marksman Destro. However, he was offered the chance to travel to Brazil as a reserve player. Italy can replace any player in the squad up to 24 hours prior to their World Cup opener against England on June 14.

"With regards to Destro I spoke to him and I tried to make him understand that I didn't want to take three forwards to Brazil," Prandelli said. "Hence, I asked him if he would be ready to be a reverse player and he told me he would think about it.

"In that meeting, my assistant Gabriele Pin was present. In any case I told Destro that he is and will be an important player for us."

Ultimately, Destro was not named as a replacement player.