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Barzagli, Cigarini get Prandelli Italy call
Posted Monday, October 03, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

World Cup-winning Juventus centre-back Andrea Barzagli has earned a recall to the Italy national team for the first time in three years.

Atalanta midfielder Luca Cigarini was also given his first call-up by coach Cesare Prandelli for the Euro 2012 qualification matches against Serbia in Belgrade on October 7 and at home to Northern Ireland in Pescara four days later.

Italy have already qualified for the finals in Poland and Ukraine next year as Group C winners but both their opponents are still in contention for second place and a spot in the play-offs.

Barzagli last played for Italy in September 2008 against Cyprus when Marcello Lippi was the coach.

He had also been part of the squad Lippi took to Germany for their successful World Cup campaign in 2006.

He has 25 caps for Italy and replaces Inter Milan centre-back Andrea Ranocchia, who had been first choice recently under Prandelli but has lost his place in the Inter side.

Cigarini has been rewarded for his and Atalanta's surprisingly good start to the season and comes in for Inter's injured midefielder Thiago Motta.

Amongst the forwards there was only one change with the injured Alberto Gilardino omitted.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St Germain/FRA), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli)

Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Fiorentina), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg/RUS), Christian Maggio (Napoli)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Daniele de Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Antonio Nocerino (Palermo), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City/ENG), Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal/ESP)

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia