Uncapped duo handed Italy chance

UC Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella and AS Roma left-back Max Tonetto have both earned first call-ups in a 25-man Italy squad named by Roberto Donadoni for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Scotland in Bari on 28 March.

Opportunity knocks
Quagliarella, 24, has impressed with eleven goals in 26 Serie A games this season, while the 32-year-old Tonetto been a regular for Roma, helping them into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Meanwhile, AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini could win only his second cap since 2004 after earning a recall. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Fabio Grosso and Christian Zaccardo are all ruled out through injury, and Francesco Totti omitted by his own request. The Azzurri have seven points from four games in Group B, two fewer than leaders Scotland and France.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Christian Abbiati (Torino FC).

Defenders: Max Tonetto (AS Roma), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona), Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Marco Materazzi (FC Internazionale Milano), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Manuel Pasqual (ACF Fiorentina).

Midfielders: Stefano Mauri (S.S. Lazio), Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennnaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Franco Semioli (AC Chievo Verona), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus).

Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella (UC Sampdoria), Tommaso Rocchi (S.S. Lazio), Luca Toni (ACF Fiorentina), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio).