2008 European Football Championship
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Donadoni announces Italy team list: Filippo Inzaghi left off Italy's European Championship squad
05-20-2008AC Milan forward Filippo Inzaghi was left out when Italy coach Roberto Donadoni announced a preliminary roster Tuesday for the European Championship.
The 34-year-old Inzaghi scored 11 goals in Serie A this season and netted twice when AC Milan won the Club World Cup in December. Donadoni opted for Luca Toni, Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella, Alessandro Del Piero, Marco Borriello and Antonio Cassano in attack instead.
Inzaghi has scored 25 goals in 57 appearances for Italy.
Donadoni selected a squad of 24 players, and will cut the roster down to 23 on May 28, the UEFA deadline to submit teams.
Cassano's inclusion was also in question. The Sampdoria striker was Italy's top player at Euro 2004, but has struggled since then with his form and temper.
"Antonio knows he has a huge chance, and he knows what it means to be part of this group," Donadoni said. "I know what he can offer in technical terms."
Del Piero was dropped from recent friendlies, but cemented his return by leading Serie A with 21 goals this season.
"Del Piero went through a rough period physically, but then his quality shone through," Donadoni said.
Fourteen members of the squad took part in Italy's World Cup victory in Germany two years ago.
Italy were drawn into one of the toughest groups of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
The Azzurri open against the Netherlands on June 9, face Romania four days later and then meet France on June 17 in a rematch of the World Cup final.
Italy opens training camp on Sunday in Florence, and will play Belgium in a warmup game on May 30 in the Tuscan city.
Source: [Canadian Press]
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