NOTHING SO neatly illustrates the extent to which Roberto Donadoni has remained faithful to the players who won the World Cup for Marcello Lippi and Italy two years ago as the fact 12 of the 14 players who lined out for Italy in the Berlin final are in the Euro 2008 squad. The two exceptions are Roma playmaker Francesco Totti, who has retired from international football, and Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta who is injured.
Donadoni's first-choice team contains only two significant changes from the side that beat France in Berlin - experienced right back Christian Panucci and nippy little striker Antonio Di Natale.
If it is true Donadoni has lost two quality players in the shape of Alessandro Nesta and Totti, both retired from international football, it is also true he has brought in four quality replacements in the persons of strikers Antonio Cassano, Fabio Quagliarella, Di Natale and midfielder Alberto Aquilani.
Dropped from the 2006 squad are defenders Cristian Zaccardo and Massimo Oddo, midfielder Simone Barone and strikers Alberto Gilardino and Pippo Inzaghi.
