Sabtu, 16 Agustus 2008

Italy recall Gilardino for Austria friendly

Italy coach Marcello Lippi, naming his first squad since replacing Roberto Donadoni, recalled striker Alberto Gilardino on Saturday for the friendly against Austria in Nice on Wednesday.

Gilardino, a member of Lippi’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, recently joined Fiorentina in a bid to revive his career after losing his international place because of indifferent form with his former club AC Milan.

The 26-year-old, who has not played for the world champions since October, scored in a 2-0 win over Slavia Prague in the first leg of a Champions League qualifier in midweek.

Lippi is without injured strike pair Luca Toni and Marco Borriello.

Defensive trio Daniele Bonera, Marco Cassetti and Andrea Dossena were also called up, with captain Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Alessandro Gamberini all out injured.

Sampdoria midfielder Angelo Palombo, who won the last of his four caps in a 2-0 win over South Africa in October, was also brought in while AC Milan’s Massimo Ambrosini was omitted from the 20-man squad.

Lippi largely kept faith with the players who disappointed under Donadoni at Euro 2008.

IAQUINTA BACK

Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta returned after injury prevented him taking part in the Euros and defender Andrea Barzagli is also back after injuring his knee at the tournament.

There was no place for defender Christian Panucci and strikers Antonio Cassano and Fabio Quagliarella, all part of Donadoni’s Euro 2008 squad.

Wednesday’s friendly is a warmup for Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign which starts next month.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Palermo), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (VfL Wolfsburg), Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Marco Cassetti (AS Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyon), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus).

(Reuters)

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