Provisional Italy Squad named - Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Roberto Donadoni has named his provisional squad that he will take to the European Championships, naming 24 men. They are as follows:

The Squad

Goalkeepers

Amelia, Buffon, De Sanctis

Defenders

Barzagli, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso, Materazzi, Panucci, Zambrotta.

Midfielders

Ambrosini, Gattuso, Aquilani, Camoranesi, De Rossi, Perrotta, Montolivo, Pirlo

Attackers

Toni, Borriello, Del Piero, Di Natale, Quagliarella, Cassano

Winners and Losers

Firstly in the goalkeeping situation, there is no place for Francesco Toldo, who is kept out of the Euros by Sevilla man Morgan De Sanctis. In defence, the notable losers in the situation are Milan defenders Massimmo Oddo and Daniele Bonera, and Panucci gets his reward for a very good season with Roma. Chiellini also finds himself in the Azzurri side after helping Juventus to 3rd place in Serie A. In midfield, it's a call up of for Fiorentina starlet Riccardo Motolivo, and all 3 AC Milan midfielders make the squad. In the most discussed positions, the big absentees are Filippo Inzaghi, whose great form at the end of the season goes unrewarded for club and country, and Lazio man Tomasso Rocchi misses out too. What will surely make most headlines however will be the inclusion of Antonio Cassano, who has had his ups and downs with everyone in the Italy set-up, but gets his place in the provisional squad.

Tim

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