Balotelli And Pirlo included in Prandelli’s squad

Malta Independent Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 00:00 Last update: about 16 years ago

Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo have been recalled to the Italy squad for the games against Estonia and the Republic of Ireland.

The two players had been missing from Azzurri service for one reason or another in recent times, but they are among the 25 players picked by Cesare Prandelli.

Italy play Estonia on 3 June in a Euro 2012 qualifier, before facing Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic side in a friendly on 7 June.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Sirigu (Palermo), Viviano (Bologna)

Defenders: Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Palermo), Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Maggio (Napoli), Ranocchia (Inter)

Midfielders: Aquilani (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan)

Strikers: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giovinco (Parma), Matri (Juventus), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal)