Italy squad for Cameroon friendly
Reuters - Sunday 28 February 2010, 18:32
MILAN - Cagliari midfielder Andrea Cossu,
Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci and Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore
Sirigu received their first Italy call-ups on Sunday for
Wednesday's friendly with Cameroon.
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)