Uncapped duo earn Italy selection

Ascoli Calcio 1898 winger Pasquale Foggia and AC Chievo Verona defender Giuseppe Scurto are the new faces in Claudio Gentile's Italy squad to play Portugal in a friendly in Agueda on Tuesday.

'Creative player'
Foggia has enjoyed a fine season for promoted Ascoli, featuring in 24 of their 26 Serie A matches and scoring once. "He is a very good, creative player who can play on both flanks," Gentile said. Meanwhile, AS Roma academy product Scurto has scored one goal in 12 Serie A appearances on loan at Chievo, building on last term's nine outings for the Giallorossi.

Seeded teams
Holders Italy and hosts Portugal were the seeded teams in the draw for this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship earlier this month. The Azzurrini will face France, Serbia and Montenegro and Germany in Group A.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluca Curci (AS Roma), Antonio Mirante (AC Siena).

Defenders: Cesare Bovo (AS Roma), Michele Canini (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Coda (Empoli FC), Damiano Ferronetti (Parma FC), Andrea Mantovani (AC Chievo Verona), Giuseppe Scurto (AC Chievo Verona), Alessandro Potenza (RCD Mallorca).

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Davide Biondini (Reggina Calcio), Marino Defendi (Atalanta BC), Marco Donadel (ACF Fiorentina), Daniele Galloppa (US Triestina Calcio), Riccardo Montolivo (ACF Fiorentina), Alessandro Rosina (AC Torino).

Forwards: Pasquale Foggia (Ascoli Calcio 1898), Raffaele Palladino (US Livorno Calcio), Gianpaolo Pazzini (ACF Fiorentina), Graziano Pellè (Crotone FC).