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Italy have injury worries

Last updated : 24 March 2009 By Paul Jennings
Marcello Lippi has major injury worries ahead of his two World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland. Strikers Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni are both ruled out. Injured midfielders Mauro Camoranese, Simone Perrotta, and A.C. Milan Star Gennaro Gattuso will not play.

Young AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani and defenders Nicola Legrottaglie and Daniele Bonera are also ruled out.

Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini is chosen ahead of experience while defenders Marco Motta of Roma and Genoa player Salvatore Bocchetti come in as the other uncapped players into the 23-man squad.

Italy squad (v. Montenegro and Rep of Ireland, March 28-April 1):

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Palermo), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray).

Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Marco Motta (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Matteo Brighi (Roma), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Pasquale Foggia (Lazio), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).