Italy drop Del Piero, Inzaghi for Georgia

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has left World Cup-winning strikers Alessandro del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi out of his 22-man squad for Saturday's Group B Euro 2008 qualifier against Georgia in Genoa.

Del Piero's omission was on the cards after his lacklustre performance in midfield in last month's 0-0 draw against France and his subsequent declaration that he only wanted to play for the Azzurri as a striker.

The Juventus captain started his side's 1-1 draw at Fiorentina on the bench yesterday.

But Inzaghi's failure to feature in the list was a surprise. The fact that the Milan forward is still seeking his first Serie A goal of the season probably influenced Donadoni's decision.

The coach has handed in-form Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, a former member of Italy's Under-21 outfit, his first call-up to the senior national team.

Donadoni is without suspended captain Fabio Cannavaro and injured defenders Marco Materazzi and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Roma midfielders Simone Perrotta and Alberto Aquilani and Juventus's Mauro Camoranesi are unfit too.

After nine games Italy are second in Group B with 20 points, one behind leaders Scotland and one ahead of France.

Donadoni is expected to send several players back to their clubs after the Georgia match and call up some fresh faces for the October 17 friendly against South Africa in Siena.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), Curci (Roma).

Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Bonera (Milan), Chiellini (Juventus), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma).

Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Mauri (Lazio), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Iaquinta (Juventus), Foggia (Cagliari), Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).