Pirlo and Balotelli return to Italy fold

May 24, 2011
By: Matthew Clarke

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has recalled Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli for the games against Estonia and Republic of Ireland.

Pirlo and Balotelli return to the squad after missing the games against Slovenia and Ukraine, but Daniele De Rossi has been overlooked once again.

Parma’s Sebastian Giovinco also returns to the fold, while Cagliari defender Davide Astori and Alessandro Matri kept their places in the 25-man squad.

Italy host Estonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier on 3rd June, before welcoming Republic of Ireland in a friendly game four days later.

The Azzurri currently lead their qualifying group and are already seen as one of the favourites for the Euro 2012 title, with Bet365 paying 13.00 (12/1) on Italy to win Euro 2012.

Italy squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo), Emiliano Viviano (Bologna)

Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Matia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Ricardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Antionio Nocerino (Palermo), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Andrea Pirlo (Milan)

Attackers: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Antionio Cassano (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).

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