New Jersey-born striker Giuseppe Rossi has recovered from a knee injury just in time to earn a spot on Italy's 30-man preliminary roster, announced by head coach Cesare Prandelli on Tuesday.
The Fiorentina marksman was sidelined for four months when he damaged ligaments in his right knee in January, the latest in a long history of injury problems. At the time of his latest injury, he was the top scorer in Serie A with 14 goals in 17 matches. He scored a goal in his return to action as a substitute against Sassuolo last week.
Prandelli's squad contains a fearsome array of elite European stars, including Juventus legends Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo, Roma's Daniele De Rossi and AC Milan maverick Mario Balotelli.
A member of rugged Group D, the four-time World Cup champions open their Brazil 2014 experience against England in Manaus on June 14. Six days later they meet Costa Rica in Recife, and close out their group-stage slate against Uruguay in Natal on June 24.
Like the United States and several other countries, Italy must trim down their squad to 23 members by June 2.
GOALKEEPERS (3)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus - Italy/36yrs)
Mattia Perin (Genoa - Italy/21yrs)
Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain - France/27yrs)
DEFENDERS (10)
Ignazio Abate (AC Milan - Italy/27yrs)
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus - Italy/33yrs)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus - Italy/27yrs)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus - Italy/29yrs)
Matteo Darmian (Torino - Italy/24yrs)
Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan - Italy/21yrs)
Christian Maggio (Napoli - Italy/32yrs)
Gabriel Paletta (Parma - Italy/28yrs)
Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina - Italy/32yrs)
Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan - Italy/26yrs)
MIDFIELDERS (10)
Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina - Italy/29yrs)
Antonio Candreva (Lazio - Italy/27yrs)
Daniele De Rossi (Roma - Italy/30yrs)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus - Italy/28yrs)
Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan - Italy/29yrs)
Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain - France/31yrs)
Marco Parolo (Parma - Italy/29yrs)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus - Italy/34yrs)
Romulo (Hellas Verona - Italy/26yrs)
Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain - France/21yrs)
FORWARDS (7)
Mario Balotelli (AC Milan - Italy/23yrs)
Antonio Cassano (Parma - Italy/31yrs)
Alessio Cerci (Torino - Italy/26yrs)
Mattia Destro (Roma - Italy/23yrs)
Ciro Immobile (Torino - Italy/24yrs)
Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli - Italy/22yrs)
Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina - Italy/27yrs)
