Palladino in, Del Piero out for Italy
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Article summary
Juventus forward Raffaele Palladino is the only new face in Italy's squad for their decisive Group B qualifiers against Scotland and the Faroe Islands.
Article body
Del Piero overlooked
The 23-year-old Palladino has scored one goal in nine Serie A matches for Juventus this season and is one of five Juve players included in the Azzurri squad alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Mauro Camoranesi and Vincenzo Iaquinta, although Donadoni has decided against calling up Bianconeri captain Alessandro Del Piero. AC Milan, however, are represented with six players.
Scotland showdown
Italy are third in Group B, two points behind France and one behind Scotland. A victory in Glasgow - or a draw and a consequent victory against the Faroe Islands in Modena - would book the Azzurri's place in the tournament in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluca Curci (AS Roma).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).
Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).
Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Cristiano Lucarelli (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Raffaele Palladino (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München).
