Alessandro Del Piero has been dropped from the Italy squad for Wednesday’s friendly international with Russia.
In his place comes Roma playmaker Antonio Cassano who has been called up by Marcello Lippi for the first time
Cassano, who is a doubt for the game after picking up an injury in his side’s 1-1 draw with Bologna, forms a triumvirate of attacking Roma players alongside Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella.
Lippi has also handed first call-ups to Udinese goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis and Andrea Barzagli of Palermo.
Italy:
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Udinese), Giorgio Chiellini (Fiorentina), Fabio Cannavaro (Internazionale), Marco Materazzi (Internazionale), Alessandro Nesta (Milan), Giuseppe Pancaro (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Daniele Bonera (Parma), Mauro Esposito (Cagliari), Manuele Blasi (Juventus), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Simone Barone (Palermo), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Aimo Diana (Sampdoria), Christian Vieri (Internazionale), Alberto Gilardino (Parma), Antonio Cassano (Roma), Vincenzo Montella (Roma), Francesco Totti (Roma)
