Italy makes few changes for Euro 2012 qualifiers

Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Despite having already secured a spot at next year’s tournament, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has made only a few changes to his squad for upcoming European Championship qualifiers with Serbia and Northern Ireland.

The main additions are Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli, who hasn’t played for the national team since 2008, and Atalanta midfielder Luca Cigarini.

Barzagli replaces injured Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia, while Cigarini takes the place of Sampdoria’s Angelo Palombo, since Prandelli didn’t want to call up any Serie B players.

With Alberto Gilardino out recovering from a knee injury, the forwards are Giuseppe Rossi, Antonio Cassano, Giampaolo Pazzini, Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Giovinco.

Italy faces Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, then hosts Northern Ireland in Pescara four days later.

The Serbia match will be watched closely for any signs of fan violence. UEFA awarded Italy a 3-0 win when the teams met in Genoa a year ago because the match was stopped in the seventh minute with the score at 0-0 because of riots by Serbia supporters.

Entering the final two qualifiers, Italy holds an insurmountable eight-point lead over Serbia in Group C.

Italy has 22 points, Serbia 14, Estonia 13, Slovenia 11, Northern Ireland nine and the Faeroe Islands four.

Italy:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain).

Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Fiorentina), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Christian Maggio (Napoli).

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus).

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).