National Coach Claudio Gentile has called up the players for the friendly match vs. Germany that will open a new 2-years cycle for the U-21 selection http://www.cnnitalia.it/2002/SPORT/calcio/08/13/under/index.html Donati and Matteo Brighi - although deserving - are not included: the former is injured,the new Juventus midfielder because Trapattoni wants to take a look at him with the big boys. this is the complete list for the 20th august friendly: Federico Balzaretti (Torino) Nicola Beati (Inter) offensive midfielder Tommaso Berni (Wimbledon) goalie Marco Borriello (Milan) striker smarter beyond his years Paolo Cannavaro (Parma) defender Andrea Caracciolo (Brescia) Antonio Cassano (Roma) the spoiled brat given a second chance,he's now the star of the bunch,here's hoping he can make some good out of it Samuele Dalla Bona (Milan) midfielder should have been called before Michele Ferri (Triestina) Alessandro Gamberini (Bologna) Fabio Gatti (Perugia) midfielder,a Furino-type... Gattuso-type for the younger Alberto Gilardino (Parma) Roberto Guana (Brescia) Cristian Maggio (Vicenza) Emiliano Moretti (Juventus) defender Giovanni Pasquale (Inter) Gianluca Pegolo (Verona) Giampiero Pinzi (Udinese) midfielder my boy,should become a stalwart of the team Cristian Zaccardo (Bologna) btw,although i have no confirmation about this Udinese left fullback Giuseppe Gemiti should make the german team (he was a U-20 player in the World Tournament last fall in Argentina)
Interesting that they called Berni even though he plays in England. That's apparently the only reason they never called Dalla Bona until now. But keeper is a unique position of course.
a clear mismatch the german U-21 players are used to play with each other in the U-19 and U-20 teams,the azzurri still have to get aquainted the germans are also ahead with preparation,and it showed a very solid germany and a very confused italy Cassano didn't miss the opportunity to be controversial once more,leaving the pitch when substituted instead of joining his teammates and coach on the bench... he was booed
"Italy opened the new era of the Under-21 side, but Claudio Gentile has a lot of work to do following a poor display." http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/ita21ger.html