FLORENCE, ITALY – Cesare Prandelli reaffirms in Coverciano, Florence, the code of conduct that will force him to drop players who get red cards or who are involved in off-field antics, even shoo-ins for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
“I’m fed up of seeing certain behaviour. The national-team players must have the strength not to fall for provocations,” said the Tuscan coach, who is looking to improve on Italy’s second-place finish at Euro 2012.
Surprise call-ups Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano were among the big group of players who took part in Italy’s pre-World Cup fitness tests. Prandelli said the tests would give him important input for his final selections for this summer’s tournament, as the players’ physical condition will be especially important given the hot conditions they will face in Brazil.
As expected Prandelli did not call up 37-year-old AS Roma captain Francesco Totti or his club mate Mattia Destro. However, this does not mean the duo have no chance of making the final squad, especially in Destro’s case. The in-form 23-year-old has been excluded in accordance with the code of conduct after being given a four-match ban by Serie A’s sporting judge. Destro was banned for three matches for hitting an opponent during Roma’s 3-1 win at Cagliari eight days ago, when he scored all of his team’s goals.
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