|
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has named his preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup with Genoa forward Alberto Gilardino the biggest casualty. #INSERT type:image caption:As expected, Giorgio Chiellini was included on the preliminary Italy World Cup squad. END# Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi has been included, despite only just returning from a four-month injury absence while Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini's name also figures on the list despite his domestic suspension for three matches which would normally exclude him due to the national team's ethical code. Prandelli has until June 2 to reduce the squad to 23 players. A 31st player -- Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante -- will also train with the side from May 19, in case one of Prandelli's other three goalkeepers -- Gianluigi Buffon, Mattia Perin or Salvatore Sirigu -- pick up an injury. Hellas Verona midfielder Romulo is a surprise inclusion while Manuel Pasqual has also been selected as one of five full-backs, alongside AC Milan pair Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio, Torino's Matteo Darmian and Christian Maggio, who has only just made his return from a long-term injury. Serie A's current top-scorer Ciro Immobile has been selected along with his Torino teammate Alessio Cerci while Parma's Antonio Cassano also gets a chance to convince Prandelli of his worth to the squad, which will train for four days in the Italian FA's Coverciano training facilities before taking a three-day break. The squad will then regroup on May 25 before flying to London on May 30 for a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland at Craven Cottage. Italy will then host Luxembourg in another friendly in Perugia before flying to Brazil on June 6, ahead of their opening World Cup fixture against England in Manaus on June 14. Italy: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain). Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan). Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (AC Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Romulo (Hellas Verona), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain). Forwards: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Mattia Destro (Roma), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina).
|
