Italy Coach names Squad Vs Spain; Ignores De Rossi
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has called up striker Ciro Immobile and defender Gabriel Paletta but left out controversy-hit Daniele De Rossi from his squad to face Spain in a friendly on Wednesday.
Genoa goalkeeper, Matia Perrin and Roma striker Mattia Destro will also return for the first time since the 2012 friendlies against England and France respectively. Perrin comes in as number two behind Juventus veteran Gianluigi Buffon due to the poor form of Lazio’s Federico Marchetti, while on-form Destro joins a forward line in the absence of injury-hit Milan striker Mario Balotelli.
Paris Saint Germain midfielder Marco Verratti also returns to Prandelli’s squad for the first time since a friendly against Argentina in August 2013.
Roma midfielder De Rossi, meanwhile, pays the price for a controversial punching incident during Saturday’s scoreless draw at home to Inter Milan. De Rossi escaped punishment for punching Inter’s Argentinian striker Mauro Icardi during a corner kick. However he has faced trial by television since then and was widely expected to miss out. It is not the first time the tough-tackling 30-year-old has missed out on selection for the Azzurri due to off the ball incidents.
Italy Squad to face Spain in Madrid on Wednesday
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain/FRA)
Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg/RUS), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)
Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland/ENG), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain/FRA)
Strikers: Alessio Cerci (Torino), Mattia Destro (AS Roma), Alberto Gilardino (Genoa), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (Juventus)