Panucci recalled

Azzurri: Don calls in Panucci
Sunday 2 September, 2007
Christian Panucci and Cristiano Lucarelli have been given an Azzurri recall for the Euro 2008 games against France and Ukraine.

The Roma defender has not received a call to the Italy squad since a 2-1 win over Bulgaria on June 22, 2004, but was brought back after Alessandro Nesta’s retirement and injuries to Marco Materazzi and Fabio Cannavaro.

Although Cannavaro is in the squad, he is not 100 per cent fit after sustaining an ankle injury in training with Real Madrid.

Luca Toni is also struggling to recover from a muscular strain, but is in the side for these two crunch matches.

So Shakhtar Donetsk centre-forward Lucarelli is drafted in by Coach Roberto Donadoni, having previously earned just two caps in friendly games.

Pasquale Foggia receives his first senior Italy call after his sublime performance for Cagliari against Juventus this afternoon.

Italy face Group B leaders France at San Siro on September 8 and play Ukraine away on September 12. It will be a homecoming for Lucarelli, who now plies his trade in the Ukrainian League.

Italy squad: Abbiati (Atletico Madrid), Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), Barzagli (Palermo), F Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona), Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Foggia (Cagliari), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), F Inzaghi (Milan), C Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

Glad to see Aquilani & Foggia being called up Still no Rosina, what is Donadoni waiting for??

I guess if Cannavaro does not get fit, it will be Barzagli+Gamberini... it is a bit silly to call up only 3 CBs when 1 of them is down injured!! I guess Donadoni is thinking of putting Panucci as a CB

BoBo Vieri wrote:
Italy squad: Abbiati (Atletico Madrid), Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), Barzagli (Palermo), F Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona), Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Foggia (Cagliari), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), F Inzaghi (Milan), C Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

Cannavaro looked very fit to me today (Real vs. Villareal).

Him and Metzelder could form a great partnership there.

bluenine wrote:Glad to see Aquilani & Foggia being called up Still no Rosina, what is Donadoni waiting for??

I guess if Cannavaro does not get fit, it will be Barzagli+Gamberini... it is a bit silly to call up only 3 CBs when 1 of them is down injured!! I guess Donadoni is thinking of putting Panucci as a CB

BoBo Vieri wrote:
Italy squad: Abbiati (Atletico Madrid), Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), Barzagli (Palermo), F Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona), Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Foggia (Cagliari), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), F Inzaghi (Milan), C Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

yep no Rosina and also no Miccoli and no Rocchi? Mutarelli should also get a call pretty soon>

Quite a few players playing aboard. I don't remember seeing that many players playing elsewhere!

I had second guessed that earlier, coz this is Donadoni's escape route after Lega Calcio decided against starting Serie A early... So players like Lucarelli are in the squad coz they are probably more match fit than the Serie A based players whose season only just started...

Alive and Kicking wrote:


Quite a few players playing aboard. I don't remember seeing that many players playing elsewhere!

At least Cannavaro can partner Barzagli...that's a relief.

What is everyone's preferred team line up?

Hmm...how about the Spalletti Special?

--------------------Buffon------------------

Oddo---Cannavaro---Barzagli---Zambrotta

-------------De Rossi---Gattuso---------

----------Pirlo------Aquilani------Perrotta

-----------------------Toni-------------------


You reckon it could work? Not 100% sure on a couple of the midfielders can play where I've put them...

Is Cannavaro fit?

Deano Ashton wrote:At least Cannavaro can partner Barzagli...that's a relief.

What is everyone's preferred team line up?

If Donadoni can manage the Spalletti formation, it would be ideal... except that I would put Camoranesi ahead of Pirlo in that role.

Deano Ashton wrote:Hmm...how about the Spalletti Special?

--------------------Buffon------------------

Oddo---Cannavaro---Barzagli---Zambrotta

-------------De Rossi---Gattuso---------

----------Pirlo------Aquilani------Perrotta

-----------------------Toni-------------------


You reckon it could work? Not 100% sure on a couple of the midfielders can play where I've put them...