The Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi received his first Italy call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro but Alessandro Del Piero was left out. The Napoli defender Fabiano Santacroce, his teammate Christian Maggio and the Udinese forward Simone Pepe were also named in an Italy squad for the first time as the coach Marcello Lippi rang the changes.
"I couldn't believe it, I was speechless," the Brazilian-born Santacroce, one of few black players to be called up by Italy, said. "I can't wait to start this adventure and I thank Napoli for improving me and giving me this splendid opportunity." Juventus' Del Piero, 33, was continually overlooked by the previous Italy coach Roberto Donadoni but forced his way into the Euro 2008 squad. But his club form has since deserted him.
Meanwhile, the Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka is a doubt for France's match with Romania due to muscular problems. Marcell Jansen has been ruled out of Germany's qualifiers with Russia and Wales after picking up a thigh strain at the weekend. Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has pulled out of the Holland squad against Iceland and Norway because of a groin injury. Sammy Clingan, Stephen Craigan and Michael Duff have withdrawn from the Northern Ireland squad for the qualifiers against Slovenia and San Marino.
Fifa have agreed to allow Poland's qualifiers against Czech Republic and Slovakia after steps were taken to broker a deal between the Polish government and the national football association. * Agencies
