Published On: Wed, Mar 20th, 2013

Azzurri Shirt Numbers for Brazil and Malta Released

The shirt numbers for ’s upcoming international fixtures against and have been released.

of Roma will wear the No 10 while has opted for his No 12. will wear the No 9 and will wear his usual No 21.

Most notable is Milan’s Mattia De Sciglio wearing the No 5 shirt, rather than the expected No 3. De Sciglio has been regularly compared to Milan great Paolo Maldini, who made the No 3 famous. Genoa’s will wear Maldini’s former number instead.

Italy face Brazil on Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland before playing Malta in a World Cup Qualifier next Tuesday.

Goalkeepers: 1 Buffon, 24 De Sanctis, 25 Marchetti, 26 Sirigu.

Defenders: 7 Abate, 3 Antonelli, 13 Astori, 15 Barzagli, 19 Bonucci, 5 DeSciglio, 2 Maggio, 17 Ranocchia.

Midfielders: 20 Candreva, 4 Cerci, 16 De Rossi, 22 Diamanti, 23 Giaccherini, 8Marchisio, 18 Montolivo, 21 Pirlo, 6 Poli.

Attackers: 9 Balotelli, 14 El Shaarawy, 11 Gilardino, 12 Giovinco, 10 Osvaldo.

Twitter: @CalcioFarmer. Drew Farmer is the Forza Italian Football Genoa correspondent. 

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About the Author

Drew Farmer

- Born and raised in USA, I've spent much of the last six years living in South Korea, England, Hungary, Qatar and now back to England. My first memories of soccer was playing at the age of 5, but I didn't see my first match on TV until six years later. That was the 1994 World Cup, and I've been hooked ever since. I gained my England FA coaching certificate and coached at the youth level in England and Hungary while working in education. I am the Forza Italian Football Genoa correspondent, at least until they are relegated to Serie B. Forza Grifone! Drew Farmer can be found on Twitter @Calciofarmer.

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