Italian Under-21 boss Pierluigi Casiraghi has named his squad for their opening Euro 2009 qualifier with Albania.

The youngsters will begin their campaign in Pontedera on June 1 in a group which also consists of Croatia, Greece, Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands.

The 2009 Finals will be hosted by Sweden, who qualify automatically, while the 10 group winners and four best second-placed sides will qualify for the play-offs set for October 2008.

Casiraghi therefore has to start a new cycle with players born after January 1, 1986 and will meet the squad on Tuesday for a three-day training camp.

Parma and Juventus are the most represented clubs with three players each, followed by Treviso with two.

The Azzurrini have also qualified for the final phase of this year’s tournament, which will take place from June 10 to June 23 in the Netherlands.

Casiraghi has named a preliminary squad of 30 players, which will be cut to 23 by May 30.

Italy play their first match on June 11 against Serbia and will then play England and the Czech Republic on June 14 and 17.

Squad for Albania –

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Sambenedettese), Sirigu (Palermo)

Defenders: Belmonte (Bari), Bocchetti (Frosinone), Criscito (Genoa), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Rickler (Chievo), M. Rossi (Modena)

Midfielders: Cigarini (Parma), Candreva (Ternana), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Martino (Udinese), Dessena (Parma), Marchisio (Juventus), Paonessa (Vicenza), Russotto (Treviso)

Forwards: Acquafresca (Treviso), Giovinco (Juventus), Lupoli (Derby County), G. Rossi (Parma)

Those three Juve boys can be class
Rickler, that's a nice Italian name

The standout players are Giuseppe Rossi, Domenico Criscito and Daniele Dessena, it seems a young team though with the new cut-off point.
I guess that is how it always is.

Hows Rossi doing at Parma fella any ideas?

I heard he was doing well actually. And isnt Zola joint manager of the Under 21 team?

monster of a player in his day

HE still is he came and played here back in December.

Doing very well, I think he has 9 goals in 17, he has nearly saved them from relegation under Ranieri.

I loved him at Newcastle, a top top player, he just never got the chance to shine

His style clearly suits Italian football better, he admits that, but he says he wants to crack Man Utd.

if i was USA i would cap Rossi at senoir level so he cant play for Italy

He rejected USA, Bruce Arena called him up like when he was 17, and he said shove it up your ....

i thought you cant reject competive games for your country, if he did just shows his greed, i mean he was born in USA

Thats like Owen hargraves, remember how we talked about him the other day. You can reject, Gonzalo Higuain was in the same position, he was born in France and raised in Argentina, France tried to cap him but he told them to shove it

It's up to the player puddsy, he wants to play for Italy and has the potential to. His ethnicity is Italian and he wants to be at the highest level.

If he played for the USA he could raise the profile of the game there and make heaps of money at the same time.

Pierluigi Casiraghi has named his Italy squad for the Under-21 European Championship this summer.

The tactician had chosen a preliminary squad of 30 names earlier this month, but has today whittled that list down to 23.

There are few surprises with Roma’s Alberto Aquilani making the squad after a season disrupted by injury, while Giuseppe Rossi’s goals to keep Parma in the top-flight have been recognised too.

Arsenal owned striker Arturo Lupoli, who will join Fiorentina next month, has missed out though.

The Finals will be held in Holland from June 10 to 23 and five-time champions Italy will face England, Serbia and the Czech Republic in Group B.

The Azzurrini, who will meet up at Coverciano on June 1, are scheduled to play their first match against Serbia on June 11 and will then play England and the Czech Republic on June 14 and 17.

The winners and runners-up in each of the two groups will play each other in the semi-finals. The Final will take place on June 23 at Groningen’s Euroborg Stadium.

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Sambenedettese), Curci (Roma), Viviano (Brescia)

Defenders: Andreolli (Inter), Canini (Cagliari), Chiellini (Juventus), Coda (Udinese), Criscito (Genoa), Mantovani (Chievo), Potenza (Fiorentina), Raggi (Empoli)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Roma), Cigarini (Parma), Dessena (Parma), Lazzari (Piacenza), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Nocerino (Piacenza), Padoin (Vicenza), Rosina (Torino)

Forwards: Palladino (Juventus), Pazzini (Fiorentina), Pellè (Cesena), Giuseppe Rossi (Parma)

If I was a betting man I would go on this for the formation:

----------------------Curci---------------------

Raggi------Andreolli-----Criscito----Chiellini

--------------------Montolivo------------------

--------------------Nocerino-------------------

--------Rosina-----------------Palladino------

----------------------Rossi---------------------

---------------------Pazzini--------------------

Beat Albania 4 - 0. Goals by Acquafresca, Dessena, Criscito and Lupoli. Complete domination, no struggles.

Good result, because at that level the gap between teams is less than it is at full level.

a derby player???

A Fiorentina player

He's not listed in the squad though it said he missed out.

Lupoli played and scored, what do you mean?

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun1p.html

The squad is clearly wrong. He has to use players from the younger age group now, shown in the other thread.

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Sambenedettese), Sirigu (Palermo)

Defenders: Belmonte (Bari), Bocchetti (Frosinone), Criscito (Genoa), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Rickler (Chievo), M. Rossi (Modena)

Midfielders: Cigarini (Parma), Candreva (Ternana), De Ceglie (Juventus), De Martino (Udinese), Dessena (Parma), Marchisio (Juventus), Paonessa (Vicenza), Russotto (Treviso)

Forwards: Acquafresca (Treviso), Giovinco (Juventus), Lupoli (Derby County), G. Rossi (Parma)

Fiorentina defender Alessandro Potenza has been forced to withdraw from Italy’s Under-21 European Championship squad.

The captain was one of 23 players named by boss Pierluigi Casiraghi for the Holland tournament which kicks off on Sunday.

However, Potenza has suffered a muscle strain which will rule him out of the competition.

Casiraghi is allowed to replace the Viola talent and he’s called in Marco Motta who was already on the stand-by list.

Motta, 21, is highly rated in the peninsula and has just ended a decent campaign with mid-table Udinese in Serie A.

Italy will kick off their Group B campaign against Serbia on Monday night in Nijmegen at 19.45pm UK time.

__________________________

I'm confused, which squad is which?

Holland: June 10-23, 2007

Azzurrini squad: Consigli (Sambenedettese), Curci (Roma), Viviano (Brescia); Andreolli (Inter), Canini (Cagliari), Chiellini (Juventus), Coda (Udinese), Criscito (Genoa), Mantovani (Chievo), Motta (Udinese), Raggi (Empoli); Aquilani (Roma), Cigarini (Parma), Dessena (Parma), Lazzari (Piacenza), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Nocerino (Piacenza), Padoin (Vicenza), Rosina (Torino); Palladino (Juventus), Pazzini (Fiorentina), Pellè (Cesena), Giuseppe Rossi (Parma)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Group A
June 10 Holland - Israel (Heerenveen)
June 10 Portugal - Belgium (Groningen)
June 13 Israel - Belgium (Heerenveen)
June 13 Holland - Portugal (Groningen)
June 16 Belgium - Holland (Heerenveen)
June 16 Israel - Portugal (Groningen)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Group B
June 11 Czech Rep - England (Arnhem)
June 11 Serbia - Italy (Nijmegen)
June 14 Czech Rep - Serbia (Arnhem)
June 14 England - Italy (Nijmegen)
June 17 Czech Rep - Italy (Arnhem)
June 17 England - Serbia (Nijmegen)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Semi finals
June 20 Winner A v Runner-up B (Heerenveen)
June 20 Winner B v Runner-up A (Arnhem)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Third place play-off
June 21 If required for Olympic qualification (Nijmegen)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Final
June 23 (Groningen)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roll of Honour
1972 Czechoslovakia,1974 Hungary, 1976 USSR, 1978 Yugoslavia, 1980 USSR, 1982 England, 1984 England, 1986 Spain, 1988 France, 1990 USSR, 1992 Italy, 1994 Italy, 1996 Italy, 1998 Spain, 2000 Italy, 2002 Czech Rep, 2004 Italy, 2006 Holland

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Azzurrini boss Pierluigi Casiraghi has announced his squad for Italy’s Under-21 friendly against France on August 21.

Casiraghi’s men will use the test at Spezia’s Stadio Alberto Picco to prepare for their September 7 European Championships qualifer against the Faroe Islands.

There are unexpected places for Arezzo defender Andrea Ranocchia and Cremonese goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

Meanwhile, Villarreal new boy Giuseppe Rossi remains an Azzurrini.

The squad is full:

Goalkeepers: Consigli (Rimini), Sirigu (Cremonese)

Defenders: Andreolli (Roma), Criscito (Juventus), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Udinese), Pisano (Cagliari), Ranocchia (Arezzo), Santacroce (Brescia)

Midfielders: Cigarini (Parma), De Ceglie (Siena), Dessena (Parma), Giovinco (Empoli), Marchisio (Empoli), Morosini (Vicenza), Paonessa (Bologna), Russotto (Treviso)

Strikers: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Lupoli (Fiorentina), Pozzi (Empoli), Rossi (Villarreal)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug16i.html

Ranocchia is a surprise, but Sirigu shouldn't be. He is a Palermo player and is promising, but behind Fontana and Agliardi, and they also signed a young Belgian.

Two new keepers, interesting.

Also nice to see four Juve kids in there.

My team:

--------------------Consigli--------------------

Motta-------Andreolli-----Criscito-----Pisano

--------------------Cigarini--------------------

-----Dessena----Marchisio----De Ceglie----

-----------Acquafresca-----Rossi-------------

Looks like it was a strong overall performance.

----------------------------------------------------------

U-21: France served Italian lesson
Tuesday 21 August, 2007

----------------------------------------------------------

The Italian Under-21 side kicked off the 2007-08 season in the best possible manner with a 2-1 victory over France. A lively first half performance won it for the Azzurrini in a game that underlined that they will again be a force to be reckoned with on this stage for the immediate future.

Coach Gigi Casiraghi opted to use the Spezia test to try out a new formation. Having mainly used a 4-1-4-1 with the last Under-21 generation, the former striker fielded a potentially more exciting 4-3-2-1 shape against a French outfit that included Milan’s Yoann Gourcuff and impressive Monaco forward Jeremy Menez.

However, it was the Azzurrini who ended the first half in front after a scintillating spell of football from Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi. The two gems were used as No 10s behind Nicola Pozzi and it proved to be effective against a Les Bleus side which was clearly weak on the right flank.

In a game which included some tasty challengers, which led to the showing of numerous yellow cards, Italy took their time to really threaten French ‘keeper Hugo Lloris even if Giovinco and Rossi were looking dangerous.

French attacks were rather thin and were mainly limited to long-range efforts that were comfortably dealt with by Andrea Consigli in between the Italian sticks. By the half hour stage Italy had settled and took the lead through Daniele Dessena. He may have been the kid who got his name on the score-sheet but it was all down to Giovinco really.

The pint-sized attacking midfielder, on loan at Empoli from Juventus, skipped past three players on the left and his low cross was diverted into the empty net by Dessena. It was the youngster’s second international goal in just four games.

That strike saw the limited crowd at the Alberto Picco rise to their feet and they did the same just three minutes later when Rossi made it 2-0. A corner from the left found Rossi near the penalty spot and the new Villarreal signing stylishly smashed it in with his left foot.

Half-time brought with it the inevitable mass changes which we are accustomed to in friendlies and robbed us of more from Rossi and Giovinco who were replaced by Arturo Lupoli and Roberto Acquafresca.

The changes had a negative effect on the Azzurrini who gifted France a goal back. A misunderstanding at the back between Marco Motta and Lino Marzoratti allowed the ball to find Julien Quercia who slotted home.

The Italian defence was looking rather nervy having lost Domenico Criscito in training this morning, before Marco Andreolli and Fabiano Santacroce were forced off during the game because of injury. And it wasn’t long before France almost equalised as sub ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu was forced into a cracking save from Yoan Gouffran.

The second period was no advertisement for entertainment as both sides struggled to build attacks with the final ball letting down both sets of players. Marchisio and Lupoli did have efforts on goal, but neither looked like rippling the net.

It wasn’t until injury time that the scoreline almost changed again. Gabriele Paonessa cut in from the left and his right-footed shot slammed into the post. It mattered not though as Italy held on for a win they deserved and clearly wanted.

Italy 2-1 France
Goals: Dessena 37 (I), G Rossi 40 (I), Quercia 55 (F)

Italy: Consigli (Sirigu 46); Motta, Andreolli (Santacroce 22, Ranocchia 57), Marzoratti, Pisano (Paonessa 66); Cigarini (Morosini 60), Dessena (De Ceglie 46), Marchisio; Giovinco (Lupoli 46), Rossi (Acquafresca 46); Pozzi (Russotto 46)

France: Lloris; Bellaid, Josse (Louvion 71), Marange (Moutaouakil 46), Dabo (Marveaux 46); Chantome (Gouffran 46), Gourcuff (Mulumbu 86), Matuidi, Payet (Ben Arfa 46); Menez (Quercia 46), Samassa (Bonnet 46)

Ref: Clattenburg (Eng)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug21r.html

Very good result for us, unless Domenech can prove that Italians were some way involved in match fixing.

Everyone in Italy says that this U21 team will be significantly better than the last, which is mouth-watering really when you consider the players in that side and the fact they were favourites for the Euro U21 Championship.

That was a great move, I'm really excited about what this lad could do in the future. I think he is really one to watch this season, his pace is amazing as is his dribbling.
Empoli's veteran keeper Balli has been saying how amazed he is with Giovinco, how he has never seen a player with these attributes at his age.

Luca Cigarini spared the Azzurrini’s blushes with a late strike to earn a 2-1 win over the Faroe Islands.

Pierluigi Casiraghi’s men stared down the barrel of a humiliating draw for the majority of the evening, despite completely dominating proceedings from beginning to end.

An expectant crowd saw the Italians make an impressive start at the Stadio Briamasco in Trento and Faroes ‘keeper Gunnar Nielsen had to deny Andrea Russotto and Sebastian Giovinco within the first 10 minutes.

Nielsen had to again be at his best to deny Daniele Dessena on 14 minutes and the pressure finally told just before the half-hour mark when Russotto met a Giovinco cross to make it 1-0.

However, disaster struck minutes later when a terrible misunderstanding between the Azzurrini defence and goalkeeper Andrea Consigli saw Einar Hansen shoot into an open goal as the Atalanta man tried in vain to get back between the posts.

The Faroes sat back and soaked up seemingly endless pressure with Nicola Pozzi twice denied by the excellent Nielsen.

Giovinco was the driving force and second half substitute Arturo Lupoli was inches away in the 66th minute.

Things could have been still worse when Consigli atoned for his earlier error with a miraculous stop from Hansen.

Just as the crowd got on the players’ backs and the chances started to dry up, Cigarini pounced after the Faroes failed to clear a corner and saved the day.

Italy U-21 2-1 Faroe Islands-U21

Scorers: Russotto 28 (I), E Hansen 31 (F), Cigarini 81 (I)

Italy Under-21: Consigli; Criscito, Marzoratti, Motta (Pisano 46), Rossi; Cigarini, Dessena, Marchisio, Giovinco; Pozzi (Acquafresca 63), Russotto (Lupoli 56)

Faroe Islands Under-21: Nielsen; Dam, E Hansen, Davidsen, Gunnarsson; Leifsson, Lokin, Naes, A Hansen, Hanssen; Jakobsen

Ref: Mrkovic (BZH)

---------------------------------------------

I would expect profligacy from the first team in this sort of match, but not the kids. Typical wasting of chance, it should have been 5-0.

Cagliari starlet Robert Acquafresca was the hero as a Sebastian Giovinco inspired Azzurrini squeezed past Albania 1-0 in a Euro 2009 qualifier.

Pierluigi Casiraghi’s men had a lot to prove after labouring to a 2-1 win over the Faroe Islands last Friday and for long periods struggled to make possession count against a plucky Albanian side.

The Azzurrini pulverised Albania 4-0 back in June, and the star of that win Acquafresca was brought in from the start to replace Andrea Russotto.

Despite dominating through Daniele Dessena and Giovinco – an alleged £10m target for CSKA Moscow – the Italians created no clear chances in the first period as the hosts defended deep.

The dangerous Jahmir Hyka kept Casiraghi’s men on their toes and Andrea Consigli had to be alert to deny him from a header.

There were hearts in mouths on the visiting bench when Xhevair Sukaj hit a shot inches wide after 20 minutes, but Domenico Criscito kept the danger man quiet from that point on.

The game remained tight after the interval and Criscito was called upon to make a superb saving challenge to stop Elis Bakaj.

However, after 69 minutes the Azzurrini got their breakthrough when Giovinco beat two men and found Acquafresca who picked out the bottom corner with a precise strike.

The pressure was visibly released and Siena’s Paolo De Ceglie fired inches wide a minute later before Giovinco tried an audacious lob which finished just over the bar.

Artan Bushati’s men seemed to have set out for a 0-0 draw and looked dispirited as the pace dropped.

Bakaj fired just wide with four minutes remaining, but his shot was a rare moment of menace and Italy were allowed to cruise to their third victory from three in their Euro 2009 qualifying campaign.

Albania U-21 0-1 Italy-U21

Scorers: Acquafresca 69 (I)

Albania Under-21: Koliqi; Arapi, Lila, Sefa, Shoshi; Hyka, Bakaj, Malindi, Mile; Progri, Sukaj (Cani 73)

Italy Under-21: Consigli; Criscito, Marzoratti, Motta, Pisano (De Silvestri 42); Cigarini, De Ceglie, Dessena, Acquafresca, Giovinco; Rossi

Ref: Schorgenhofer (AUS)

The Azzurrini are making a bit hard work of these games, wasting too many chances, it doesn't seem right for a team guided by Casiraghi and Zola.
One thing is for sure, they are not up to Gentile's standards so far.

Giovinco is fecking class, btw.

We could have used him this season

Under-21: Italy 2-0 Croatia - 12/10/07

Scorer: Acquafresca 40, 57

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Robert Acquafresca netted twice as Italy’s Under-21s gained a comfortable victory over qualification rivals Croatia in a tense but entertaining encounter.

The Azzurrini are now leading the table with 12 points having played all four games, while Croatia are second with nine.

Italy needed a win and Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi lined up with a 4-3-3 formation. The Azzurrini trident was formed by Sebastian Giovinco, Giuseppe Rossi and Acquafresca.

After a slow start, Croatia could have taken the lead when Busic’s scissor-kick was disallowed by the referee after two fantastic saves from Andrea Consigli.

The home team had an excellent opportunity on 34 minutes, but Giuseppe Rossi’s first-time shot was deflected wide.

Italy took the lead soon after thanks to Acquafresca. A Rossi cross was guided home off the outside of his right foot and past the outstretched Vargic.

Croatia’s reaction was poor, but both Rossi and Luca Cigarini saw yellow before half-time.

Italy doubled their lead on 57 minutes. Marco Motta crossed from the right and Acquafresca was again on hand to turn in his second goal of the evening, this time with his head.

Two minutes later Giovinco could have made it 3-0, but his lobbed shot went inches wide.

Rossi had two attempts on goal with his left and then his right foot, but both were tipped away by Vargic.

The undoubted star of the match, Acquafresca, was replaced by Andrea Russotto on 68 minutes with Rossi taking the role of the central striker.

The Azzurrini tried to increase their advantage a few minutes before the final whistle, but Giovinco and Rossi’s efforts were again denied by Vargic.

Italy: Consigli; Motta, Marzoratti (Santacroce 71), Criscito, Rubin; Dessena, Cigarini, Marchisio; Rossi, Acquafresca (Russotto 68), Giovinco (Morosini 87)

Croatia: Vargic; Dzigic (Kukec 75), Lovren, Ipsa; Bakovic, Ilicevic, Jajalo, Tomasov (Rukavina 62), Pamic; Tasic, Busic

Ref: M. Gonzalez

channel4.com/footballitalia

Good win by the Azzurrini, finally starting to come together after some low scoring games against the minnows. Croatia are the next strongest team but I didn't think they would handle that front three of Acquafresca, Rossi and Giovinco, it is a very special front trio.

Despite sensational goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Daniele Dessena, Italy’s 100 per cent Under-21 qualifying record ended with a 2-2 draw in Greece.

Fresh from a 2-0 win over Croatia, Italy wanted another positive result to consolidate their position at the top of the group for the European Under-21 Championships. The only change to the starting XI was Vicenza’s Piermario Morosini in for the suspended Luca Cigarini.

There was an adjustment to the officials, though, as the Russian referee and his assistants were unable to reach the Greek capital in time, so German Stark took over.

It started well in Athens with Sebastian Giovinco threading through for Robert Acquafresca, but the man who bagged a brace last week could only turn his angled drive past the post.

Instead, it was Greece who took the lead with their first real attempt after 19 minutes, Petropoulos rising to head in a corner.

Dessena had a potential equaliser disallowed soon after and Giuseppe Rossi slipped as he was sent clear by Empoli starlet Giovinco.

Torino’s Matteo Rubin was forced off with an injury to make way for Lazio revelation Lorenzo De Silvestri. Giovinco continued to dominate proceedings, as he tested Kasmeridis with a free kick and created another promising opportunity for Acquafresca, halted by a debatable offside flag.

Pierluigi Casiraghi’s side struggled after the restart and risked going 2-0 down when Rimini shot-stopper Andrea Consigli fingertipped a dangerous Hristodoulopoulos effort wide of the target.

Italy finally drew level on 62 minutes, as former Parma and Manchester United man Giuseppe Rossi scored a sensational individual effort. He found space down the left and unleashed a powerful and precise drive to beat the goalkeeper.

Moments later Rossi skimmed the woodwork again from the edge of the area, but Consigli was tested twice by Makos from close range.

The Azzurrini turned the game around completely in the closing stages with a splendid team goal. Rossi and Giovinco combined before Parma’s Dessena smashed his unstoppable strike into the top corner.

It still wasn’t over in this dramatic encounter, as in the final minute substitute De Silvestri brought down Makos. Mitroglu stepped up and buried his penalty to Consigli’s right, securing a 2-2 draw for Greece.

This ends Italy’s 100 per cent record, but they remain clear at the top of Group 1 with 13 points in five games. Greece move second on 10 and Croatia follow with nine.

Greece 1-2 Italy

Scorers: Petropoulos 19 (G), Rossi 62 (I), Dessena 81 (I), Mitroglu pen 89 (G)

Greece U21: Kasmeridis; Maniatis, Galitsos, Papastathopoulos, Tzavelas; Hristodoulopoulos (Mitroglou 84), Rikka, Makos, Dimoutos (Pliatsikas 67); Kone (Kiliaras 80); Petropoulos

Italy U21: Consigli; Motta, Marzoratti, Criscito, Rubin (De Silvestri 36); Dessena, Morosini, Marchisio; Rossi, Giovinco (Russotto 82); Acquafresca (Pozzi 77)
Ref: Stark (Ger)

Casiraghi's reponse: http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct17a.html

Very good performance, bit disappointed to concede a last minute penalty but a decent result and Italy are still in control in the group.
Sluggish start and unfortunate end, but in-between there was some fantastic football and superb goals, I have a really good feeling about this team, once they have played together more they could do very very well. Giovinco is an absolute star and Rossi is an assassin.

Pierluigi Casiraghi has selected his Azzurrini squad for the forthcoming Euro 2009 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands.

There are a few new faces amongst the chosen men, including Inter goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso and midfielder Francesco Bolzoni.

Alessio Cerci who is on loan from Roma to Pisa gets his reward for seven goals in the Tuscan minnows’ fantastic start to the season.

Casiraghi’s men take on Azerbaijan at home on November 16 and travel to Torshavn in the Faroe Islands on November 21.

Italy Under-21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Alfonso (Inter), Consigli (Rimini), Sirigu (Cremonese)

Defenders: Criscito (Juventus), De Silvestri (Lazio), Marzoratti (Empoli), Motta (Torino), Rossi (Parma), Santacroce (Brescia)

Midfielders: Bolzoni (Inter), Cigarini (Parma), De Ceglie (Siena), Dessena (Parma), Giovinco (Empoli), Marchisio (Empoli), Morosini (Vicenza)

Strikers: Acquafresca (Cagliari), Cerci (Pisa), Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Pozzi (Empoli)


Another Argentine selected for Italy then (Osvaldo - Fiorentina)

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo



He doesn't even look or sound Italian

I thought the days of Oriundi had finished with Camoranesi, obviously not.

Making hard work of it, even with 10 men.

Giuseppe Rossi inspired the Azzurrini to an impressive scalp in a 2-1 friendly victory over European champions Holland.

Pierluigi Casiraghi opted for a 4-3-2-1 system headed by former Parma and Manchester United starlet Rossi, who has scored 10 goals in Spain for Villarreal.

The Dutch had a good chance early on with Luyckx firing wide from a poor clearance, but Italy went ahead three minutes later.

Rossi threaded through for Daniel Pablo Osvaldo to spring the offside trap and the Fiorentina striker swept it past goalkeeper Velthuizen.

Coach Casiraghi made six substitutions at the break and moved Rossi’s position, but he continued to dominate the squad.

One of the new faces, Treviso’s Russotto, drilled just wide and brought a tough save out of Velthuizen soon after stepping on to the field.

But it was Rossi who doubled the advantage on 62 minutes when his left-foot strike from distance took a deflection off Drost.

Holland got back into the game late on with an acrobatic Drenthe thunderbolt, but Donk’s dismissal made a complete turnaround unlikely.

It was a good performance from the Azzurrini, who are warming up for the Olympics in Beijing on August 6.

Italy 2-1 Holland

Scorers: Osvaldo 27 (I), G Rossi 62 (I), Drenthe 72 (H)

Sent off: Donk 82 (H)

Italy U-21: Viviano (1'st Consigli); Motta (M Rossi 46), Coda, Criscito (Rossettini 46), De Ceglie; Nocerino, Cigarini (Paonessa 70), Montolivo (Morosini 46); Osvaldo (Russotto 46) (Marzoratti 90), Cerci (Pozzi 46); G Rossi (Abate 63)

Holland U-21: Velthuizen; Zuiverloon, Donk, Luijckkx (Elia 46), Pieters (Jong-A-Pin 46); Brama (Vormer 46), Drost (Janse 46), De Jong; Amrabat (George 46), Sno, Drenthe

Ref: Perez Rubinos (Spagna)

Attendance: 5,000

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/feb5r.html

We were missing quite a few injured players, but losing 2-1 away to Italy is not a terrible result

A good scalp for the Azzurrini. Holland always have a strong team but I don't think Italy are inferior to anyone at this level either, the midfield and forwards for Italy in particular are superb. Viviano is a highly rated keeper as well. It was interesting to see Criscito-De Ceglie on the left side of defence, I thought Criscito would usually be used as a left back for the Azzurrini and De Ceglie usually play left midfield but it looks to have good balance, Criscito just needs to grow physically to play in the centre at the top level.

And yes, for DDK's sake, Italy's goals were scored by an American and and Argentinian if you want to be picky

Who was missing, out of interest?