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)