Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi has backed Italy coach Marcello Lippi's decision to leave Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano out of his squad.

De Rossi said: "He is among the most talented and entertaining Italian strikers.

"But if we go and look at his goalscoring record, it's clear that the players who are here with the Italy squad score more than him or even that other players with better records have also been left out."