Italy call up Parolo, leave out Borriello

Posted Monday, March 21, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

ROME, March 20 (Reuters) - Italy called up Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo on Sunday but there was no place for Roma striker Marco Borriello in a youthful 25-man squad for next week’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Slovenia and a friendly in Ukraine.

The 26-year-old Parolo, who scored Cesena’s equaliser against Juventus a week ago, was the surprise selection for the Azzurri.

Claudio Marchisio, one of six Juventus players, returned to the squad along with striker Alberto Gilardino and another Cesena player Davide Santon.

Coach Cesare Prandelli left out Roma’s Daniele De Rossi and Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli who both received red cards in European competition.

Italy top Euro 2012 qualifying Group C, three points ahead of Slovenia.

Italy squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo), Emiliano Viviano (Bologna).

Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Daniele Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Davide Santon (Cesena).

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Stefano Mauri (Lazio), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter Milan), Antonio Nocerino (Palermo), Marco Parolo (Cesena).

Forwards: Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).