Mario Balotelli and Danielle De Rossi have both been excluded from Italy's squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine.
Italy are preparing for a Euro 2012 qualifier in Slovenia on Friday and then have a friendly against Ukraine on March 29. However, Cesar Prandelli has stressed on the importance of discipline after he dropped the duo as a result of some unacceptable behaviors by both of them at club level.
Balotelli has been much of the talk at Manchester City last week after reportedly clashing with Roberto Mancini due to his sending off against Dynamo Kyiv. Meanwhile Rossi was suspended for three matches after appearing to elbow Darijo Srna in Roma's Champions League defeat to Shakhtar.
"I accept my exclusion from the Italy squad, because I know there is a code of ethics and the rules are there to be respected," De Rossi said. "I hope this will only be for these two games and I can return to the Azzurri soon.
"Prandelli does not owe me an explanation. There are rules, I broke them and it's right I am left at home. I said it was a blessing, as I could rest during the break, but that was just a joke to take some of the pressure off.
"It's true my tendon hurts and I picked up a knock, but I don't think it's anything serious."
Italy squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine:
Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Bologna); Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Gastaldello (Sampdoria); Maggio (Napoli), Ranocchia (Inter), Santon (Cesena), Aquilani (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Mauri (Lazio), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Parolo (Cesena); Cassano (Milan), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giovinco (Parma), Matri (Juventus), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal)
Balotelli has been much of the talk at Manchester City last week after reportedly clashing with Roberto Mancini due to his sending off against Dynamo Kyiv. Meanwhile Rossi was suspended for three matches after appearing to elbow Darijo Srna in Roma's Champions League defeat to Shakhtar.
"I accept my exclusion from the Italy squad, because I know there is a code of ethics and the rules are there to be respected," De Rossi said. "I hope this will only be for these two games and I can return to the Azzurri soon.
"Prandelli does not owe me an explanation. There are rules, I broke them and it's right I am left at home. I said it was a blessing, as I could rest during the break, but that was just a joke to take some of the pressure off.
"It's true my tendon hurts and I picked up a knock, but I don't think it's anything serious."
Italy squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine:
Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Bologna); Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Gastaldello (Sampdoria); Maggio (Napoli), Ranocchia (Inter), Santon (Cesena), Aquilani (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Mauri (Lazio), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Parolo (Cesena); Cassano (Milan), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giovinco (Parma), Matri (Juventus), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal)
