Panucci gets <i>Azzurri</i> recall

Roma defender Christian Panucci was recalled to the Italy squad yesterday for the Euro 2008 Group B qualifying double-header against France and Ukraine.

Panucci, 34, last played for the Azzurri at Euro 2004 but has been drafted back after Marco Materazzi was ruled out of the Sept. 8 and 12 matches because of the thigh injury he picked up in Italy's 3-1 friendly defeat in Hungary last month.

Marcello Lippi surprisingly ignored Panucci as a potential right-back in Italy's World-Cup winning squad last year.

Panucci has since switched to centre-back for Roma and some solid displays have convinced current coach Roberto Donadoni to bring him back into a squad lacking defensive experience following Alessandro Nesta's international retirement.

Palermo's Andrea Barzagli and recalled Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini will be competing with Panucci to partner Fabio Cannavaro, who endured one of his worst performances in the defeat by Hungary.

Donadoni was forced to pick the squad for the Hungary game before they had played a competitive match.

Goalkeepers: Abbiati (Atletico Madrid), Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus).

Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona).

Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Foggia (Cag-liari), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), Inzaghi (Milan), Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).