Conte leaves Balotelli out of first Italy squad

Posted Sunday, August 31, 2014 by Goal.com

The new Azzurri boss unveiled his first team and has omitted the Liverpool striker, which could be down to his suspension from the Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway

Antonio Conte has announced his first squad since taking over as coach of Italy and has left Mario Balotelli out.

The three-time Scudetto winning coach with Juventus was appointed as coach of the national team earlier this month, replacing Cesare Prandelli who resigned immediately after the loss to Uruguay which saw the Azzurri eliminated from the World Cup.

Conte has announced the squad for his first games in charge as they prepare to meet Netherlands in a friendly on September 4 before they begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with Norway five days later.

The biggest surprise in the squad is the absence of Balotelli, however, that could be explained by the new Liverpool striker's suspension from the Norway tie.

Mainstays Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Daniele De Rossi and Claudio Marchisio are all in the team, while Ciro Immobile, Simone Zaza and Sebastian Giovinco are also included.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele Padelli (Torino), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);

Defenders: Davide Astori (Roma), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter);

Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Poli (Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);

Attackers: Mattia Destro (Roma), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Pablo Osvaldo (Inter), Simone Zaza (Sassuolo)