Italy call-up for Camoranesi

Giovanni Trapattoni has included Argentinian-born winger Mauro Camoranesi in the Italy squad for the international friendly against Portugal in Genoa on February 12. 
 
Argentina snub
The 26-year-old Juventus FC player chose to represent Italy instead of his native country after Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa excluded him from his party to face the Netherlands.

Lively performances
Camoranesi's impressive performances for Juventus this season have forced coach Marcello Lippi to move Gianluca Zambrotta from the right midfield to left-back.

Skippers out
AS Roma captain Francesco Totti is ruled out after injuring his thigh during his side's 2-1 defeat of city rivals S.S. Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final last Wednesday. And Juventus skipper Alessandro Del Piero is sidelined for a month, also with a thigh injury.

Zanetti return
But 23-year-old Perugia Calcio forward Fabrizio Miccoli has been included, as was Internazionale FC midfield player Cristiano Zanetti, who returns  to the squad for the first time since the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and Korea.

Sloppy start
Italy have made a poor start to their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign and lie in third position behind Yugoslavia and Group 9 leaders Wales.

Italy squad
Buffon, Pelizzoli, Toldo; Birindelli, Fabio Cannavaro, Ferrari, Legrottaglie, Nesta, Panucci; Camoranesi, Zambrotta, Zauri, Ambrosini, Fiore, Perrotta, Pirlo, Tommasi, Zanetti; Delvecchio, Filippo Inzaghi, Miccoli, Vieri.