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Prandelli leaves Di Natale off Italy's squad
Posted Monday, November 07, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

ROME (AP)—Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has once again left Serie A’s leading scorer Antonio Di Natale off his squad, even with usual starters Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano unavailable.

The Azzurri visit Euro 2012 co-host Poland on Friday then host Copa America champion Uruguay at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico four days later in friendlies.

Prandelli instead called up regular reserves Giampaolo Pazzini, Mario Balotelli, Simone Pepe, Alessandro Matri and Pablo Osvaldo in attack.

Rossi had knee surgery last week and Cassano is recovering from heart surgery, with both players expected to be out for up to six months.

Di Natale led Serie A in scoring the past two seasons with a combined 57 goals and also leads this season with eight goals in 10 matches, but Prandelli has never called him up.

Di Natale’s last appearance with the national team came when he scored in a 3-2 loss to Slovakia that eliminated Italy from last year’s World Cup. He has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances but Prandelli may be hesitant over his age, 34, which doesn’t fit into the renewal project the coach has undertaken since replacing Marcello Lippi.

Also, AC Milan fullback Ignazio Abate received his first call-up.

Italy qualified for the European Championship with two matches to spare.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain).

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter Milan), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus).

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Pablo Osvaldo (Roma), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan), Simone Pepe (Juventus).

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