Italy will travel to Slovenia for Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier in Ljubljana and will then play a friendly in Kiev against Ukraine the following Tuesday.

Both players have been dropped for reportedly breaking Prandelli's 'code of ethics' after their recent behaviour for their clubs.

Balotelli was shown a red card for a high tackle on Goran Popov in last week's Europa League match at Dynamo Kiev, while De Rossi was handed a three-match ban by UEFA for elbowing an opponent in Roma's Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

"There is a code of ethics and I have broken it with a horrible gesture as it has been described by the press," De Rossi said.

"I hope I can return very soon to the national team."

Prandelli has handed Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo his first call-up, while Alberto Gilardino, Claudio Marchisio and Davide Santon return to the squad.

Italy squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine: G Buffon (Juventus), S Sirigu (Palermo), E Viviano (Bologna); D Astori (Cagliari), F Balzaretti (Palermo), L Bonucci (Juventus), G Chiellini (Juventus), D Criscito (Genoa), D Gastaldello (Sampdoria); C Maggio (Napoli), A Ranocchia (Inter Milan), D Santon (Cesena), A Aquilani (Juventus), C Marchisio (Juventus), S Mauri (Lazio), R Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter Milan), A Nocerino (Palermo), M Parolo (Cesena); A Cassano (AC Milan), A Gilardino (Fiorentina), S Giovinco (Parma), A Matri (Juventus), G Pazzini (Inter Milan), G Rossi (Villarreal).