Pirlo, Gilardino return to Italy's squad

Posted Sunday, August 29, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

ROME (AP)—Andrea Pirlo, Alberto Gilardino and Giampaolo Pazzini have returned to Italy's squad for upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Estonia and the Faeroe Islands.

All three players missed the 1-0 friendly loss to Ivory Coast on Aug. 10, the debut of new coach Cesare Prandelli, who took over from Marcello Lippi after Italy’s first-round exit from the World Cup.

With Amauri and Mario Balotelli out injured, the other forwards named Saturday were Antonio Cassano, Simone Pepe, Fabio Quagliarella and Giuseppe Rossi.

Once again leaving out Gianluca Zambrotta, Prandelli called up four new defenders: Luca Antonelli of Parma, Cesare Bovo of Palermo, Lorenzo De Silvestri of Fiorentina and Daniele Gastaldello of Sampdoria.

With Gianluigi Buffon still recovering from back surgery, the goalkeepers are Antonio Mirante of Parma, Salvatore Sirigu of Palermo and Emiliano Viviano of Bologna.

Italy opens qualifying at Estonia on Friday then hosts the Faeroe Islands four days later in Florence.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Antonio Mirante (Parma), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo), Emiliano Viviano (Bologna).

Defenders: Luca Antonelli (Parma), Leoonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Cesare Bovo (Palermo), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Lorenz De Silvestri (Fiorentina), Daniele Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Cristian Molinaro (Stuttgart).

Midfielders: Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Andrea Lazzari (Cagliari), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).

Forwards: Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Juventus), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).