Pierluigi Casiraghi has announced his final 18-man Italy squad for next month’s Olympic Games.
There are no major surprises in Casiraghi’s selection, although there is no room for Napoli duo Andrea Russotto and Fabiano Santacroce, the latter being suspended.
Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi is the only over-age player in the 18-man squad that also features explosive young talents Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi.
Casiraghi has named four standbys, including Russotto, in case one of the main squad members is injured between now and Italy’s first game on August 7.
The Azzurrini travel to Beijing in confident mood following their victory at the Toulon Tournament in May, and they will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy alongside the likes of Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
Italy have received a fairly kind draw, as they have been placed in Group D with Cameroon, Honduras and South Korea. They will meet Brazil in the quarter final, if one side wins their group, and the other finishes as runners-up. In a warm-up game for the tournament, Casiraghi’s boys drew 1-1 with Romania last night.
Italy’ squad: Abate (Milan), Acquafresca (Cagliari), Bocchetti (Genoa), Cigarini (Parma), Coda (Udinese), Consigli (Atalanta), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Silvestri (Lazio), Dessena (Parma), Giovinco (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta (Udinese), Nocerino (Palermo), Rocchi (Lazio), Rossi (Villarreal), Viviano (Brescia)
Standbys: Candreva (Udinese), Ranocchia (Arezzo), Russotto (Napoli), Sirigu (Palermo)
Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi is the only over-age player in the 18-man squad that also features explosive young talents Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi.
Casiraghi has named four standbys, including Russotto, in case one of the main squad members is injured between now and Italy’s first game on August 7.
The Azzurrini travel to Beijing in confident mood following their victory at the Toulon Tournament in May, and they will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy alongside the likes of Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
Italy have received a fairly kind draw, as they have been placed in Group D with Cameroon, Honduras and South Korea. They will meet Brazil in the quarter final, if one side wins their group, and the other finishes as runners-up. In a warm-up game for the tournament, Casiraghi’s boys drew 1-1 with Romania last night.
Italy’ squad: Abate (Milan), Acquafresca (Cagliari), Bocchetti (Genoa), Cigarini (Parma), Coda (Udinese), Consigli (Atalanta), Criscito (Genoa), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Silvestri (Lazio), Dessena (Parma), Giovinco (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta (Udinese), Nocerino (Palermo), Rocchi (Lazio), Rossi (Villarreal), Viviano (Brescia)
Standbys: Candreva (Udinese), Ranocchia (Arezzo), Russotto (Napoli), Sirigu (Palermo)
