Italy squad for Cameroon friendly

Coach Marcello Lippi has dropped Fabio Grosso after the left-back lost his place in the Juventus team while there is no recall for AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta despite speculation he may come out of international retirement.

AS Roma striker Francesco Totti has also indicated he is willing to return to the Azzurri for June's World Cup but his continued fitness problems mean he is yet to be included, with injured team mate Luca Toni missing out too.

The game against Cameroon in Monaco is the first of three friendlies for the world champions before they begin the defence of their title in South Africa.

First choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is injured so Sirigu comes into the squad while AC Milan striker Marco Borriello returns to the Italy ranks for the first time since Euro 2008 given Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta are ruled out.

Right back Gianluca Zambrotta and right winger Mauro Camoranesi, both regulars under Lippi, also miss out because of fitness problems.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo)

Defenders: Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Domenico Criscito (Genoa)

Midfielders: Simone Pepe (Udinese), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari)

Forwards: Marco Borriello (Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)

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