Lanzafame given Italy chance

AS Bari forward Davide Lanzafame is the only new face in Pierluigi Casiraghi's 21-man squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier away to Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

Attacking strength
Lanzafame, who has scored eight goals in 28 Serie B games this term, replaces Empoli FC striker Nicola Pozzi, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Lanzafame will share the attacking duties with the in-form Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (ACF Fiorentina), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal CF) and Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio). The latter, who has scored four goals in his last four Serie A appearance with Cagliari, has turned down the opportunity of playing for Poland, where his mother comes from, at senior level. "I thank Poland for their interest but I decided to continue playing for Italy," the 20-year-old said. The Azzurrini have won six of their seven games in Group 1.

Goalkeepers: Enrico Alfonso (AC Venezia), Andrea Consigli (Rimini Calcio), Salvatore Sirigu (US Cremonese).

Defenders: Antonio Bocchetti (Frosinone Calcio),  Paolo De Ceglie (AC Siena), Lorenzo De Silvestri (S.S. Lazio), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (Torino FC), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio), Marco Rossi (Parma FC).

Midfielders: Francesco Bolzoni (FC Internazionale Milano), Luca Cigarini (Parma FC), Daniele Dessena (Parma FC), Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli FC), Claudio Marchisio (Empoli FC), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), Andrea Russotto (Treviso FC).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Davide Lanzafame (AS Bari), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (ACF Fiorentina), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal CF).