Montolivo earns Italy call-up

ACF Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo was the only new name in Roberto Donadoni's 22-man Italy squad for the UEFA EURO 2008™ Group B qualifier against Georgia in Genoa on 13 October.

Montolivo rewarded
Donadoni is without the injured Gianluca Zambrotta, Alberto Aquilani and Simone Perrotta, while captain Fabio Cannavaro is suspended, and has turned to 22-year-old former Italy Under-21 player Montolivo after some eye-catching performances in Serie A. Another man earning a call-up after good recent form is FC Bayern München striker Luca Toni, who returns after missing the games against France and Ukraine through injury. FC Shakhtar Donetsk striker Cristiano Lucarelli is also named but Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi miss out. Italy are second in Group B, a point behind Scotland.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluca Curci (AS Roma).

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Alessandro Gamberini (ACF Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma).

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari Calcio), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Stefano Mauri (S.S. Lazio), Riccardo Montolivo (ACF Fiorentina), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Cristiano Lucarelli (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München).