Despite having already secured a spot at next year’s tournament, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has made only a few changes to his 23-man squad for upcoming European Championship qualifiers with Serbia and Northern Ireland
The main additions are Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli, who hasn’t played for the national team since 2008, and Atalanta midfielder Luca Cigarini.
Barzagli replaces injured Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia, while Cigarini takes the place of Sampdoria’s Angelo Palombo, since Prandelli didn’t want to call up any Serie B players.
With Alberto Gilardino out recovering from a knee injury, the forwards are Giuseppe Rossi, Antonio Cassano, Giampaolo Pazzini, Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Giovinco.
Italy faces Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, then hosts Northern Ireland in Pescara four days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St Germain)
Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Fiorentina), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg), Christian Maggio (Napoli)
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
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