Milan full-back Ignazio Abate yesterday received his first call-up to the Italy squad as coach Cesare Prandelli named 24 players for forthcoming friendlies against Poland and Uruguay.

There were also recalls for Juventus pair Simone Pepe and Alessandro Matri while Inter’s Brazilian-born midfielder Thiago Motta returns following injury, as do Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli, Inter forward Giampaolo Pazzini and Domenico Criscito of Russia’s Zenit.

Italy play Poland in Wroclaw next Friday and Uruguay in the Italian capital on November 15.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Paris St Germain), De Sanctis (Napoli).
Defenders: Abate (Milan), Balza­retti (Palermo), Barzagli (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit SP), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter).
Midfielders: Aquilani (Milan), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus).
Forwards: Balotelli (Manchester City), Giovinco (Parma), Matri (Juventus), Osvaldo (Roma), Pazzini (Inter), Pepe (Juventus).

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