Italy call up Osvaldo and Ogbonna
Reuters - Wednesday 05 October 2011, 14:32
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has given
late call-ups to striker Pablo Osvaldo and defender Angelo
Ogbonna after Mario Balotelli on Wednesday became the latest
player to be ruled out of the match against Serbia.
Forward Balotelli is sidelined with a bad back and joins
defender Domenico Criscito and striker Giampaolo Pazzini in
missing Friday's Euro 2012 qualifying Group C match and next
Tuesday's final encounter with Northern Ireland through injury.
An Italian football federation statement also said forward
Giuseppe Rossi was improving after a knock and could feature on
Friday.
Italy have already qualified for next June's finals in
Ukraine and Poland but the game in Belgrade is crucial to
second-placed Serbia's hopes of seizing a play-off spot.