Italy coach Marcello Lippi named three debutants in his squad yesterday to face Montenegro and Ireland in World Cup qualifiers, with the inclusion of Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti the biggest surprise.
The 22-year-old former U-21 international, barely a regular for the Serie A high-fliers, has been called up for the first time along with Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini and Roma right-back Marco Motta.
Goalkeepers: Amelia (Palermo), Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Galatasaray).
Defenders: Bocchetti (Genoa), Cannavaro (R. Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Dossena (Liverpool), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Motta (Roma), Zambrotta (Milan).
Midfielders: Brighi (Roma), De Rossi (Roma), Foggia (Lazio), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan).
Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Iaquinta (Juventus), Pazzini (Sampdoria), Pepe (Udinese), Quagliarella (Udinese), Rossi (Villarreal).