Striking absences for Italy

By Paolo Menicucci

Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino have been omitted from Italy's provisional 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2004™.

Squad announcement
Inzaghi and Gilardino, scorer of 23 league goals for Parma AC this season, were excluded from the list announced by coach Giovanni Trapattoni today, along with another attacker Fabrizio Miccoli.

Forward options
Trapattoni, who has chosen to select six forwards rather than five, has instead called up Juventus FC's Marco Di Vaio alongside Christian Vieri, Bernardo Corradi, Francesco Totti, Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero.

Still a chance
Inzaghi of AC Milan may yet be named in the Azzurri's final squad on 2 June if he can prove his fitness after ankle surgery last month, but the 22-year-old Gilardino now seems likely to play for Italy at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship later this month.

'Where he belongs'
"In Gilardino's role I already have Vieri and Corradi," explained Trapattoni. "Gilardino will play with the U21s where he belongs at the moment. I cannot be swayed by the enthusiasm of the media for his performances in the last three months. Gilardino has great qualities and will find a place in the national team in the future."

'Question marks'
Meanwhile, the coach underlined the reasoning behind excluding Inzaghi from his initial squad, saying: “Inzaghi would usually deserve to be here but there are too many question marks over his fitness. I can only call on players who are 100 per cent ready.”

Zanetti fit
In midfield, Cristiano Zanetti has recovered from his recent injuries and is preferred to AC Milan's Massimo Ambrosini. However, Trapattoni does include two players from the Italian champions in Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.

Peruzzi named
As expected there is no place for Roberto Baggio, who made a farewell appearance in the friendly against Spain last month, while the third goalkeeping berth behind Gianluigi Buffon and Francesco Toldo goes to veteran Angelo Peruzzi.

Defensive cover
With Paolo Maldini ruling out a return to the national team, Trapattoni has opted for Matteo Ferrari and Marco Materazzi as cover for Alessandro Nesta and captain Fabio Cannavaro in central defence, but Juventus FC's Nicola Legrottaglie is left out. Giuseppe Favalli will provide back-up for left back Gianluca Zambrotta while Christian Panucci and Massimo Oddo will vie for the right-sided position.

Training schedule
Trapattoni's squad will assemble at a pre-tournament training camp in Coverciano on 24 May before playing African champions Tunisia on 30 May in their final warm-up game. They kick off their EURO 2004™ campaign against Denmark in Guimarães on 14 June.

Italy squad

Goalkeepers
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus FC)
Francesco Toldo (Internazionale FC)
Angelo Peruzzi (S.S. Lazio)

Defenders
Christian Panucci (AS Roma)
Massimo Oddo (S.S. Lazio)
Fabio Cannavaro (Internazionale FC)
Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan)
Matteo Ferrari (AC Parma)
Marco Materazzi (Internazionale FC)
Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus FC)
Giuseppe Favalli (S.S. Lazio)

Midfielders
Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan)
Simone Perrotta (AC Chievo Verona)
Cristiano Zanetti (Internazionale FC)
Stefano Fiore (S.S. Lazio)
Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus FC)

Forwards
Marco Di Vaio (Juventus FC)
Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus FC)
Antonio Cassano (AS Roma)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Bernardo Corradi (S.S. Lazio)
Christian Vieri (Internazionale FC)