Cesare Prandelli has released the new squad list ahead of Italy’s friendly with France on November 14.
There has been one change to the original list as Domenico Criscito was not able to respond to the call-up after an injury sustained with Zenit St Petersburg.
In his place, Prandelli has called-up Atalanta defender Federico Peluso.
Daniele De Rossi has been dropped from the squad because of the red card he received in Roma’s 3-2 loss to rivals Lazio on Sunday. Prandelli is known for having a strict code of ethics regarding players who are sent off or because of violent conduct.
Stephan El Shaarawy has received another call-up, demonstrating that the young AC Milan star is making a definite step-up from the Under-21 team.
Roma midfielder Alessandro Florenzi is another player who has shown that he has what it takes to make the jump from Under-21 competition to the senior team, and along with him comes Newcastle United defender Davide Santon.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St. Germain), Emiliano Viviano (Fiorentina);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Roma), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Federico Peluso (Atalanta), Davide Santon (Newcastle);
Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Marco Verratti (Paris St. Germain);
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Mattia Destro (Roma), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (Roma).
The venue for Wednesday’s match is the Stadio Tardini in Parma.
