Soccer

Del Piero named in Italy squad

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero and Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano have been included in Italy's provisional 24-man …

Tue May 20 2008 - 01:00

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero and Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano have been included in Italy's provisional 24-man squad for Euro 2008.

Del Piero, 33, has not played for the world champions in eight months but was expected to be included in Roberto Donadoni's squad after finishing as Serie A's top scorer for the first time with 21 goals this term.

"Del Piero has done well, he has had a great season," Donadoni, who has agreed a new two-year contract through to the 2010 World Cup, explained.

Cassano, on loan from Real Madrid, has produced some inspired displays this season but Donadoni had resisted calling him up because of worries over his bouts of indiscipline.

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The colourful 25-year-old, who picked up the last of his 10 caps in 2006, was banned for five games in March for verbally abusing a referee and throwing his shirt towards him.

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo was the only other surprise inclusion, with Donadoni having to trim one name before submitting his final squad to UEFA on May 28th.

Italy's squad will meet on Sunday after Saturday's Cup final between Serie A champions Inter Milan and runners-up Roma.

There was as expected no place in the squad for 34-year-old AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi, who was dropped with Del Piero after a lacklustre showing in September's 0-0 qualifying draw with France.

Roma forward Francesco Totti and AC Milan defenders Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta have retired from internationals. Totti is in any case out until next season with a knee injury.

Italy squad

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Lyon)

Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Marco Borriello (Genoa), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria, on loan from Real Madrid)