Azzurri + Azzurrini Call-Ups
(Morgan doesn't really care that he never gets to play. He just loves to work the suit.)
Ahead of the friendly against Spain next Wednesday, Cesare has called up 24 players, none of whom are new or particularly surprising, but it's first time he's called De Sanctis, DDR is back after being sent his room for his red cards and Ogbonna kept his spot (!!!). With Beppe Rossi, Sirigu and Mimmo in the squad, the list look very cosmopolitan indeed.Portieri: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli) Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);
Difensori: Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus) Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St. Pietroburgo), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);
Centrocampisti: Aquilani (Liverpool), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta Thiago (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Juventus);
Attaccanti: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal).
The team will convene on Sunday, apart from Beppe, Frog, Pazzo and Sex Machine, all of whom will arrive the following day.
The babies also play next Wednesday, but they'll be facing Switzerland. Unlike Cesare, Ciro has called two newbies into his squad: defender Simone Sini, midfielder Alessandro Florenzi, both of whom are owned by Roma, though Florenzi's on loan at Crotone. Additionally, Macheda is back.Portieri: Bardi (Inter), Colombi (Juve Stabia), Pinsoglio (Delfino Pescara);
Difensori: Caldirola (Inter), Capuano (Delfino Pescara), Crescenzi (Roma), Donati (Padova), Faraoni (Inter), Mori (Empoli), Santon (Inter), Sini (Roma);
Centrocampisti: Bertolacci (Roma), D’Alessandro (Roma), Fabbrini (Udinese), Florenzi (Crotone), Marrone (Juventus), Rossi Fausto (Vicenza), Saponara (Empoli), Soriano (Sampdoria);
Attaccanti: Borini (Parma), Gabbiadini (Atalanta), Macheda (Manchester United), Paloschi (Milan).
They'll meet up on Sunday night and get their game faces on -- it might just be a friendly, but Euro qualifying starts next months for these kids.