Soccer: No room for Totti, Toni in Italy squad

ROME - Francesco Totti and Luca Toni have been left out of Italy's 30-man World Cup squad.

Totti retired from the national team after helping Italy win the 2006 World Cup, but there had been speculation that he could return.

Toni was Italy's main striker in 2006 and at the 2008 European Championship, but lost his place when he ran into problems at Bayern Munich to start this season.

Toni transferred to Roma in January and has helped the club keep pressure on leader Inter Milan heading into the final round of Serie A this weekend.

But coach Marcello Lippi left both players off the preliminary squad announced today.

The seven forwards chosen were Marco Borriello, Antonio Di Natale, Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Giampaolo Pazzini, Fabio Quagliarella and Giuseppe Rossi.

In defence, Juventus centre back Nicola Legrottaglie was not included despite taking part in a two-day Azzurri training camp last week.

Italy will train at altitude in Sestriere starting May 23, and has friendlies against Mexico on June 3 in Brussels and Switzerland two days later in Geneva.

In South Africa, the World Cup holders open against Paraguay on June 14 and also face New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F.

Italy squad

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo).

Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).

Forwards: Marco Borriello (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).

- AP