Rome: 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 against 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 face Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, then host 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.
squad
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).
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 face Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, then host 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.
squad
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).
